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The public and brutal death of Black American George Floyd was a tragedy that had the potential to push the profession of nursing toward a perspective transformation. A summative content analysis of 49 professional nursing organization statements served as a pilot to explore the research question: Did the nursing profession experience a perspective transformation relating to racial justice and health equity following the death of George Floyd? Texts from the statements were analyzed for the presence of an equity lens, which is necessary for a perspective transformation. Each statement was assigned a rating score to determine the organization's readiness for a perspective transformation based on equity competencies adapted from CommonHealth Action. Findings demonstrated that the nursing profession is beginning to articulate the issue of racism in health care and is committed to advocating for patients of color; however, further understanding of the historical context of structural racism and the development of meaningful policy remains necessary for the profession to experience a perspective transformation.

The era of COVID-19 has highlighted disparities within the health care system. The pandemic, in combination with the death of George Floyd, has resulted in professional organizations condemning racism as a public health issue. But what is the role of individual nurse practitioners in addressing systemic racism within the healthcare system? The Code of Ethics for Nurses requires that all nurses actively work to reduce disparities. The code states that universal access to nursing is a human right and that health must be considered in the frame of social determinants. America needs nurse practitioners to reimagine the healthcare system and to develop policy and legislation that results in change. Nurse practitioners are among the most trusted professionals in America, and we can help the country heal from centuries-old injustices.

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the lives of nurses. To capture these experiences, the AANP history committee sponsored a writing contest. The stories, essays, and poems were heartfelt and ranged from personal experiences to future implications. One essay entitled “The Five Stages of COVID Grief: One Nurse Practitioner's Coronavirus Story,” captured the essence of the time and is applicable to all nurses as we continue our journey and document our legacy. Using the framework of COVID Grief, this article seeks to outline the shared experience and range of emotions represented in the writing contest submissions. Through this lens, the Year of the Nurse and the toll of coronavirus can be framed by the emotions of disbelief, bitterness, guilt, fear and anxiety, and resilience.