America needs nurses who are bold and intrepid; who have the confidence and skill to represent this noble profession. And at no other time in history have their voices been so desperately needed. Hospital based errors are now the third leading cause of death in America, despite our professional ethic of ʺFirst Do No Harm.ʺ And recent surveys show that the majority of nurses are still avoiding the difficult conversations. In addition, the health of Americans is insidiously declining as the rates of cancer, diabetes and obesity steadily rise.

Ultimately, it is the confidence and skill with which we hold our everyday conversations that will pave the way to a future time when our patients are safe, our voices are heard, and the skills and knowledge of this incredible profession are valued and utilized.