Honoring Nurse Practitioners Who Lost Their Lives to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health crisis unlike anything our country — or the world — has witnessed in over a century. The loss of life that families have experienced is tragic and heartbreaking. Just as this virus has impacted the lives of so many, it has impacted the nurse practitioner (NP) community.

From the moment the pandemic began, members of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) — and the NP community as a whole — bravely continued to provide health care to their patients, including those sickened by COVID-19. Joined by thousands of health care colleagues, these dedicated clinicians put the health of patients ahead of their own, working tirelessly and at tremendous personal risk to treat COVID-19 patients in primary, specialty and acute care settings. As of this writing, more than 800 health care professionals have given their lives in service to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. AANP is grateful for their commitment, courage and leadership. Their memory and inspiration will never be forgotten by our nation or our profession. The actions of these NPs and other health care heroes saved thousands of patients.

As the fight against COVID-19 continues, AANP joins with the entire NP community in honoring these NPs — and all our health care colleagues — lost to COVID-19. Together, we grieve with the families whose mother, father, sister, brother or child died providing vital health care to patients during this pandemic. We will honor their sacrifice and strive to live up to the example they have set for us. In remembrance of their lives and actions, our nation’s NPs recommit ourselves to combating COVID-19 and improving the health of our nation.