Each year on May 12th, the world pauses to recognize the remarkable contributions of nurses in every corner of healthcare. International Nurses Day not only celebrates these dedicated professionals but also commemorates the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.
At Do It Bariatrics, we believe this is more than a celebration—it’s an opportunity to spotlight the incredible work nurses do behind the scenes and on the front lines of bariatric care. From early post-op recovery to long-term healing, nurses are the heartbeat of every success story.
Honoring the Legacy of Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale OM RRC DStJ was born on May 12, 1820, and during the Crimean War, she transformed patient care by championing sanitation, safety, and systematic nursing. Her legacy set the standard for how nursing would develop globally, grounded in compassion, cleanliness, and courage.
Today, more than two centuries later, her influence is felt in every hospital ward, recovery room, and bedside encounter. For those of us in bariatric surgery, her spirit of resilience and care lives on in the nurses who support patients through one of the most important transformations of their lives.
The Critical Role of Nurses in Bariatric Surgery
While bariatric surgery is a highly specialized field led by skilled surgeons, it is nurses who help carry the patient through the most delicate phases—often when they are most vulnerable, confused, or in pain. Their presence is constant, steady, and deeply human.
Here are the ways in which nurses impact bariatric patients at Do It Bariatrics:
1. Intraoperative Support: Focused and Essential
During surgery, specialized nurses (such as scrub and circulating nurses) work hand-in-hand with the surgeon and anesthesiologist to ensure everything runs safely and smoothly.
They are responsible for:
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Maintaining a sterile and safe environment in the operating room.
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Monitoring vital signs and equipment.
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Anticipating the needs of the surgical team.
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Handling surgical instruments with precision and focus.
Their ability to stay calm and attentive during these critical moments contributes directly to patient safety and successful outcomes.
2. Postoperative Care: Compassion in Action
Immediately after surgery, the patient’s journey is just beginning. Bariatric surgery is a major procedure, and recovery starts the moment a patient is wheeled into the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).
Our nurses:
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Monitor for early signs of complications such as bleeding or infection.
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Manage pain effectively to keep patients comfortable.
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Ensure hydration is carefully introduced post-op, one sip at a time.
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Support patients through their first steps out of bed—literally and emotionally.
This stage is where patients often feel scared or overwhelmed, and it’s the nurse’s calming presence that helps restore their confidence. They’re not just checking charts—they’re holding hands, answering questions, and offering words of encouragement.
3. In-Hospital Recovery: Educators and Advocates
While nutritionists, coordinators, and doctors handle the bulk of pre-op education, nurses play a powerful supporting role in reinforcing post-op instructions during the hospital stay.
They help patients:
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Practice proper sipping techniques.
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Understand drain management (if applicable).
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Learn how to move safely to avoid strain or injury.
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Recognize warning signs of complications after discharge.
They act as patient advocates, alerting doctors if a patient is struggling, emotionally distressed, or needs extra care.
4. Emotional Support and Reassurance
Let’s not overlook the emotional toll that surgery can take—especially in the first 24–48 hours. Patients have just made a life-altering decision, and it’s normal to feel emotional or even second-guess the process.
This is where nurses shine brightest.
They sit with patients who are weeping or anxious. They listen without judgment. They offer real human connection—something no manual or app can replace. It’s this intangible emotional labor that makes nurses the soul of the healing process.
5. Continuity of Care and Follow-Up Communication
Even after discharge, nurses often play a vital behind-the-scenes role in checking up on patients, reviewing progress, and staying connected with the rest of the clinical team. They are part of the coordinated effort that ensures the patient’s long-term weight loss journey remains safe and successful.
A Personal Message from Dr. Louisiana Valenzuela
Dr. Louisiana Valenzuela, MD, FACS, lead bariatric surgeon at Do It Bariatrics, has worked alongside exceptional nurses for more than a decade. On this special day, she shared the following message:
“Our nurses are more than just skilled professionals—they are the heart of our bariatric program. They care for our patients when they are most vulnerable, celebrate their progress, and comfort them through setbacks. I’ve seen our nurses go above and beyond—time and time again—and I am endlessly grateful for the compassion, energy, and strength they bring into every patient’s journey.”
Dr. Valenzuela herself is a role model for many of the women on her team—not just as a surgeon and a leader, but as a fellow mother and advocate for patient-centered care. Her respect for her nursing team reflects the tight collaboration and mutual trust that drives outcomes at Do It Bariatrics.
Why Nurses Deserve Our Gratitude—Today and Every Day
At Do It Bariatrics, we work with a deeply committed group of professionals—but it’s the nurses who truly carry the emotional and physical weight of patient care during the most sensitive phases.
They wake early. They stay late. They answer the call buttons. They calm the fears. They chart every detail and notice when something doesn’t look right. They help patients sit up for the first time, walk down the hallway for the first time, and believe in themselves for the first time in a long time.
So today, we say:
💙 Thank you for your hands, your hearts, and your healing.
💙 Thank you for being the first to respond and the last to leave.
💙 Thank you for being the heartbeat of bariatric care.
Florence Nightingale said, “Nursing is an art: and if it is to be made an art, it requires an exclusive devotion.” At Do It Bariatrics, we witness that devotion every single day through our incredible nursing staff.
To all nurses—especially those who have chosen to walk alongside our bariatric patients—you are making a difference that lasts a lifetime.
Happy International Nurses Day from all of us at Do It Bariatrics. 💙
