The Gift of Giving for Nurses: Compassion in Action
The gift of giving is at the heart of the nursing profession. Nurses embody generosity not merely through grand gestures, but through thousands of quiet acts that bring comfort, safety, and dignity to those in need. Their ability to blend clinical skill with deep compassion makes nursing a profession defined by service. Nowhere is this more vividly demonstrated than in orthopaedic medical missions connected to Operation Walk worldwide - missions that highlight how nurses transform lives through both their expertise and their humanity.
Operation Walk worldwide is an international, volunteer-driven program that provides free hip and knee replacement surgeries to patients in countries where access to advanced orthopaedic care is limited. These missions allow nurses, as part of an interdisciplinary team, to extend their healing reach beyond familiar clinical settings, entering communities where resources may be scarce but the need for compassionate care is profound. Orthopaedic nurses (including many of our own NAON members) serve as educators, caregivers, advocates, and companions throughout every stage of the mission, making the “gift of giving” a lived experience for both patients and volunteers.
Practical applications of nursing care in these missions begin long before patients enter the operating room. Nurses participate in securing and coordinating supplies for the mission, preoperative screening, ensuring patients understand their procedures, and offer emotional reassurance to those who have lived with chronic pain for years. Their presence often bridges cultural, linguistic, and social divides, creating an atmosphere of trust that is essential for successful surgical outcomes.
During the mission, nurses as a part of the team provide meticulous intraoperative and postoperative care. They monitor vital signs, manage pain, prevent complications, and guide patients through the first challenging steps of rehabilitation. In countries where mobility often determines a person’s ability to work, care for family, or participate in community life, these first steps represent far more than physical progress - they symbolize a return to independence. For many patients, the nurse standing at their side at that moment becomes a lifelong memory of hope restored.
Beyond clinical care, nurses help strengthen local capacity. They collaborate with local healthcare teams, sharing knowledge about postoperative protocols, infection prevention, and patient education. This exchange ensures that the impact of the mission extends well beyond a single week of surgeries, leaving lasting benefits for patients and communities.
For nurses, the gift of giving during Operation Walk missions is deeply reciprocal. While they offer their time, skills, and compassion, they receive something equally meaningful - renewed purpose, gratitude from patients, and a powerful reminder of the global impact of their calling. In every life touched, nurses reaffirm that the heart of giving lies in service, and that their hands carry the capacity to change the world one patient at a time.
If you are interested in serving on a team in your area or helping start a new team, please reach out to Operation Walk at www.operationwalkusa.org.
Matt Lowe MDiv, MSN, APRN FNP-C, ONC
President
National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses