By Laurie L. Prescott, RN, MSN, CCDS, CDIP, CRC

“Nurses: Inspire, Innovate, Influence.”

That’s the theme of Nurses Week in 2018 and it reflects so well how nurses have affected the profession of CDI over the years. Of course, nurses share this profession of CDI with many disciplines, including HIM professionals and physicians and each brings their own skills, scope of knowledge and experience to the game.

Nurses working in the role of a CDI specialist, rarely get to apply their direct patient care skills any more. This is difficult for many, like myself, who found the intangibles of nursing to be the most rewarding experiences of our lives—holding a hand, wiping tears away, minimizing the burden of pain and fear. We are invited to share our patient’s most intimate moments in life and death. The true nurse sees this invitation as a privilege.