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National Nurses Week is an annual celebration from May 6- 12, recognizing nurses and celebrating all they do.

Dr. Camille Brockett-Walker, DNP, FNP-BC, AGACNP-BC, is a double board-certified nurse practitioner with nearly 20 years of experience caring for patients in high-acuity settings. As a faculty member at Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, she is known for her dynamic teaching style and dedication to mentoring the next generation of nurses. A nationally recognized educator and speaker, Dr. Brockett-Walker is passionate about making complex health topics accessible and advancing the role of nurse practitioners in today’s healthcare system.

Article:

What does National Nurses Week mean to you, and why is it important that we continue to celebrate nurses?


Dr. Brockett-Walker: National Nurses Week is a time to reflect on our impact and honor the tireless commitment of nurses in every setting. It reminds the world and ourselves that our work is both science and heart.

What is one thing you wish more people knew about the work ICU nurses do?


Dr. Brockett-Walker: ICU nurses are not just task managers; we are critical thinkers, patient advocates, and decision-makers who operate under intense pressure with precision and compassion.

•What was the inspiration behind the work that you do as an ICU NP?


Dr. Brockett-Walker: I was inspired by the intensity of critical care, the ability to act swiftly, think critically, and change the trajectory of a patient’s life in moments. My role in the clinical space is where my passion and purpose meet.

How can nursing schools better prepare students?

Dr. Brockett-Walker: Nursing schools can better prepare students by integrating real-world clinical reasoning, simulation training, and mentorship earlier in the curriculum, beyond textbook learning. Equally important is holding students accountable and setting high academic and clinical standards. Their future patients’ lives will depend on their knowledge, judgment, and readiness. We do students, and the communities they will serve, a disservice when we lower expectations. Excellence in nursing education ensures safe, competent, and confident practice.

How can nurse practitioners help fight health misinformation?


Dr. Brockett-Walker: We have to show up in the spaces where misinformation spreads—social media, community events, even family gatherings—and communicate clearly, respectfully, and with evidence.

How can readers connect online?  

Dr. Brockett-Walker: https://www.instagram.com/camillebthenp?igsh=ZDZjYjZnanNoM3g4

Photo Credits: Photo Provided by Dr. Brockett-Walker