Liberty takes part in Light Up the Sky event for National Nurses Week

Gathered in front of the Freedom Tower on Liberty University’s campus on Wednesday night, the Liberty University School of Nursing brought students, faculty, alumni, and local nurses together for the start of National Nurses Week, an annual celebration that recognizes nurses’ for their contributions as caregivers and advocates in their communities.

The Freedom Tower was lit in red during the event in conjunction with the American Nurses Association’s Nurses Light Up the Sky campaign in which over 200 city skylines, landmarks, and participating hospitals will be illuminated in red this week. People were encouraged to post pictures on social media and use the hashtags #ThePowerOfNurses and #NursesLightUpTheSky.

National Nurses Week is held annually on May 6-12, with the final day being the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is widely considered the founder of modern nursing. There are over 5 million registered nurses in the United States and more than 151,000 in the Commonwealth of Virginia, meaning 1 in 59 Virginians is a nurse.

LUSON Dean Dr. Tracey Turner addressed the crowd of nurses, some who are entering the field soon and some who have been in the field for decades. She spoke about the sacrificial service that nurses are called to.

“This week helps us remember how special our profession is, and it’s a calling marked by sacrifice,” she said. “I know many of us have missed family gatherings (like) Christmas and Thanksgiving, and missed many a night’s sleep, and it’s (because of) our unwavering commitment to others and helping them through difficult situations. We have a unique ability to help bring healing and hope to people who are at a very vulnerable stage of life.”

She read 1 Peter 4:10: “Each of you should use whatever gifts you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

“This verse truly captures the very heart of nursing; it’s a profession grounded in service, stewardship, and compassion,” Turner said.

CEO of the Virginia Nurses Association Lindsey Cardwell then spoke on how nurses take on roles and tasks beyond simply administering medical care, having a major impact on society.

“As a nurse, your actions influence the confidence, safety, and outcomes of your patients,” she said. “You speak up to protect them. You bring presence and reassurance, and when something is broken, you find a better way. You collaborate across disciplines, bridging perspectives, resolving conflicts, and ensuring that care is coordinated, patient-centered, and grounded in mutual respect. You advocate in your schools, your communities, and places of policy because you know what is needed to keep people safe and healthy. When difficult conversations are required, you leave them with compassion and clarity.”

“For many of us, nursing is a way we live out our faith not in words but in action,” she added, “by showing up with integrity, by advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves, by treating every person as someone made with dignity and worth.”

Cardwell encouraged the nurses in their individual stages of life and careers, including the LUSON faculty and students.

“I especially want to acknowledge the nursing faculty here tonight, because the power of nursing does not sustain itself. It is taught, modeled, challenged, and passed on through educators like you,” she said. “To our student nurses: stay curious, stay grounded, stay connected. The profession needs your voice, your integrity, and your leadership more than you know.”

Charles Billingsley, Thomas Road Baptist Church’s teaching pastor, shared his personal appreciation for nurses before offering a brief message based on the parable of the Good Samaritan. Billingsley reflected on how, when he contracted COVID-19 in April 2020, he witnessed firsthand the resiliency and dedication of hospital nurses who donned head-to-toe personal protective equipment to treat him and others in the early weeks of the pandemic. He also shared anecdotes about how his late mother was looked after by nurses in a local memory care facility.

“You’re the ones who are running in while everybody’s running out, you’re the ones who are steady under pressure while everybody else is freaking out, and you’re the ones checking in while everybody else is checking out. For that, I just want to say thank you,” he said.

As he retold the biblical story of the Samaritan man sacrificially caring for the Jewish man on the side of the road, Billingsley continued the spirit of encouragement by calling nurses to act out their faith through their care. He expounded on the question that prompted Jesus to tell the parable — “Who is my neighbor?” — and how nurses are called to care for their community.

“Just like that Good Samaritan, let’s put our love for God on display by how we love others, especially those in need,” he said. “So, who is your neighbor? Here’s the answer: anyone and everyone God puts in your path that you can help, serve, bless, and love. If you’re willing to make an investment into the lives of others, I promise you that God will fill your days with incredible opportunities to change the lives of those around you. I wish you the very best wherever God takes you in this incredible adventure of being a nurse. May you honor and live for Jesus, always as a shining light in a dark and lonely hospital room, and in so doing, be just like that Good Samaritan.”

Liberty University School of Nursing is one of the largest nursing schools in Virginia. Following in the footsteps of thousands of alumni over the school’s 43-year history, over 2,800 students are currently studying in LUSON’s residential and online programs, with around 600 in the residential pre-licensure Bachelor of Nursing program.

The Liberty University School of Nursing blends the art of caring with the expertise of science and research, giving graduates a holistic approach to the nursing field. Students are taught how to care for patients physically while tending to their mental, emotional, and spiritual needs. LUSON offers 32 programs at the certificate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels and offers multiple specializations.