Nurse Stories
There’s a kind of energy that only happens when you’re surrounded by people who get it—people who know what it means to care deeply. At the 2025 ANCC National Magnet & Pathway Conference™, that energy filled every hallway, every conversation, every shared smile. Thousands of nurses gathered in Atlanta this October, each carrying their own story, but united by one unshakable purpose: healing.
This year’s conference wasn’t just about sessions or credentials. It was about connection. It was about celebrating the extraordinary impact nurses make every day — especially alongside our partners at the DAISY Foundation, who honor nurses for the compassion, skill, and dedication they bring to their work.
A Gathering of Purpose and Pride
Walking through the conference center, you could feel the sense of pride, joy and belonging radiating from every attendee. There were laughter-filled reunions, quiet moments of reflection and hugs between colleagues who hadn’t seen each other in years. Nurses from hospitals, clinics, schools and travel assignments came together to celebrate a profession that never stops evolving, and never stops caring.
As one nurse, Nicole Armes, shared simply:
“Our job is hard enough—and comfort is everything.”
That reminder captures what lies at the heart of Healing Hands’ mission: comfort isn’t a luxury in nursing; it’s a form of support. The right fit, the right feel and the right mindset—all qualities you’ll find in our scrubs—work together to help nurses move through their day with confidence and care.
The Importance of Community
Throughout the event, one theme stood out above all: the power of community. In a field where long hours, emotional demands and constant change are part of daily life, connection isn’t optional—it’s essential.
As Nuri Djavit, Chief Marketing Officer of Healing Hands, reflected:
“The nursing community is one of the most important, yet often overworked, underpaid and underappreciated professions in this country. That’s why community is paramount.”
Those words echoed throughout the conference. Community isn’t just a feel-good idea—it’s what sustains the people who sustain everyone else. At ANCC, you could see it in the way nurses showed up for each other: trading stories, sharing advice, offering encouragement, and finding strength in shared experience.
Moments That Moved Us
What stood out most wasn’t the scale of the event, but the sense of togetherness that defined it. The lively cafeteria buzzing with laughter and conversation. The smiles exchanged between teams as they passed through the exhibition hall. The small groups that formed during sessions, sharing encouragement and stories that reminded everyone why they do what they do.
Hannah Lee from the Healing Hands team shared one moment that truly captured that spirit of connection:
“One of the most uplifting and inspiring moments I witnessed was seeing nurses with their team. Throughout the conference, I watched how they communicated, supported and encouraged one another. The way they cheered each other on while trying on scrubs, held each other's bags and guarded the fitting rooms like it was their duty was such a joyful sight. The bond that nurses share is truly genuine and remarkably strong.”
Her words reflected what everyone at ANCC could feel—that nursing is built not only on skill and strength, but on empathy, teamwork and friendship.
You didn’t have to know everyone there to feel like you belonged. That’s the beauty of nursing: even when you meet someone for the first time, you share a bond that goes beyond titles or specialties. It’s a profession built on empathy, and empathy always finds its way back.
What We Learned About the Nursing Spirit
The sessions and conversations throughout the conference revealed what’s shaping the next era of nursing:
- Leadership through compassion: Nurses leading change by listening first.
- Wellness as a priority: A growing recognition that caring for others starts with caring for yourself. (Explore more in our blog on mindfulness in nursing.)
- Mentorship and collaboration: Experienced nurses uplifting new nurses, bridging wisdom with fresh energy.
- Pride in purpose: A deep awareness that every shift, every patient, every small win adds up to something bigger.
ANCC 2025 reminded us that nursing’s strength lies not just in clinical expertise, but in community—in the willingness to lift one another up, even when the work feels heavy.
Carrying the Inspiration Forward
As the conference came to a close, the sense of unity didn’t fade—it deepened. Nurses exchanged contact info, shared reflections and promised to stay connected long after the event. Many left with a renewed commitment to support their peers, mentor the next generation and advocate for the wellbeing of their teams.
Whether in hospitals, clinics, classrooms or on the road, the spirit of ANCC 2025 carries on—in every conversation, every act of kindness and every moment of care that ripples outward from this shared experience.
The Heart of It All
Whether you attended ANCC in person or followed from afar, one truth remains: community heals. When nurses come together to listen, to share, to lift one another up, they strengthen not only their profession, but the human spirit that drives it.
Healing doesn’t happen alone. It happens through connection, compassion and the moments when we remind one another that we’re not in this work by ourselves.
Here’s to every nurse who brought their light to ANCC 2025, and to the journey of healing that continues long after the conference ends.
Stay connected with us for more moments like these, event highlights and stories from the nursing community. Follow along on Instagram @hhscrubs to be part of what’s next!