Honoring Nurses at BRMC

Rows of candles were aglow Wednesday evening outside Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) to pay tribute to the tireless healthcare efforts of all current and retired nurses. A candelight ceremony was held in front of BRMC’s Outpatient Services Center as part of National Nurses Week which began May 6 and concludes May 12, the birthday of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale. The national week’s theme is “Nurses Making A Difference Every Day.” In honor of their work, a candle-lighting ceremony was led by Deborah A. Price, the hospital’s senior vice president of Patient Care Services. Candles were individually lit from one to another in the crowd of more than 60. Meanwhile, nurses on shift at the hospital joined from inside by using glowsticks from windows above the scene.

Prior to the lighting ceremony, Edwin O. Pecht, chairman of BRMC’s Board of Directors, said in his opening remarks, “We honor all nurses tonight - those currently serving our community with their special caring and those who have gone before us.” He added, “Nurses are a professional and compassionate group of people whose knowledge and caring assists our community daily to cheat illness, injury and death. We gather tonight at this candlelight vigil to acknowledge nurses are the foundation of our healing. We salute your accomplishments.”

In the keynote address, Jill Owens, M.D., BRMC’s medical staff president, said, “A nurse, as defined by Webster’s Dictionary, is one who provides care for the sick. But we all know that they serve a much greater role. They are the eyes and ears of physicians, gathering historical data and symptoms that many times reveal the diagnosis.” Earlier in the ceremony, Bradford Mayor Tom Riel (pictured) read a proclamation which urged community residents to “join me in honoring the nurses who care for all of us” and to celebrate their accomplishments and efforts to improve the healthcare system. Included in the ceremony: an inspirational reading was given by Linda Wankel, RN, director of nursing at BRMC’s McKean County VNA & Hospice; Rev. Leo Gallina of St. Bernard Catholic Church provided a blessing; “Love Can Build A Bridge” was sung by Lynne Shannon, a speech/language pathologist at BRMC; Florence Nightingale’s Pledge was read by Michele Jack, RN, BSN, of the VNA; and a note of thanks was read by Cheri Sowash, RN, the VNA’s clinical supervisor.

~~Story by George Nianiatus, senior writer
BRMC Communications Department