January 9, 2011
Celebrate National Nurses Week 2011
The American Nurses Association has announced the theme for 2011’s National Nurses Week as “Nurses Trusted to Care.” National Nurses Week is celebrated every year from May 6th – 12th (May 12th is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the forbearer of modern nursing). May 6th is National RN Recognition Day, May 8th is National Student Nurses Day, and May 12th is National School Nurse Day. National Nurses Week was first observed in 1954 in honor of the 100th anniversary Florence Nightingale’s mission to Crimea; but it was not made official until twenty years later when President Nixon issued a proclamation in 1974. Since then, the American Nurses Association has made a point of using this week to honor the nation’s indispensable nurses for the tireless commitment they give 365 days a year.
Visit http://nursingworld.org/NationalNursesWeek to download a media kit for raising awareness of this event and of the value of the nursing profession in your community. Nurses are renowned for blending art with science. They must be dedicated individuals with a wide array of interests, strengths and passions as a result of the many ways nurses are called upon to serve. No matter where they serve — emergency rooms, school based clinics, and homeless shelters – they are expected to bring to each role a passion for the profession and a strong commitment to patient safety. Their strength and spirit allows them to meet the needs of every person with whom they come into contact.
Due to poor working conditions, long hours, reduced pay and increased duty demands, there is an ongoing nursing shortage across the industry. With nurses retiring and changing professions in large numbers, it is crucial to start spreading the word of the important need nurses fill in the health care equation. Reaching out to primary and secondary academic institutions and training students to consider nursing as a future career goal may help funnel talent back into the pool. Also, making nursing school more attainable by providing scholarships and daycare for single mothers might draw people who are interested in nursing into the profession. If you are a nurse, consider making time to appear at community functions such as Town Councils and raise awareness of the difficult and sometimes dangerous work load nurses are expected to fill. Identify areas that community leaders can get involved in solving the problems.
During National Nurses Week, make a point of telling a nurse in your life how much you care and respect the work they do! Since every nurse is required to keep their ID on their person, consider purchasing nurse-specific badge holder or beaded lanyards for badges to hand out. You can easily find a diverse assortment of badge holders and beaded lanyards for badges online that make perfect gifts for the nurses in your life. You might also take a bouquet of flowers to the local emergency room. Have students that you know decorate a large poster telling your school nurse how much he or she is appreciated. Be creative – nurses are worth it!
Nursing Tales 