KCH Celebrates Nurse’s Week

National Nurse’s Week is May 6-12 each year. It ends on May 12, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Many consider Nightingale the founder of modern nursing.

The theme for Nurse’s Week this year is “Nurses: Building a Healthy America.” This theme reflects the commitment nurses make every day for their patients, their communities and their country in building a healthy America for the public they serve.

There are nearly 2.4 million registered nurses in the United States. According to projections released from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Registered Nurses will experience the largest projected job growth in the years 2002 through 2012. There are also 531 million licensed practical & vocational nurses.

Often described as an art and a science, nursing is a profession that embraces dedicated people with varied interests, strengths and passions because of the many opportunities the profession offers.

Pam Bray, RN, Senior Leader of Patient Care/Director of Nursing at Kane Community Hospital noted “Today’s nurses must have the strength to care for patients during times of disaster and crisis; the commitment to remain involved in continuing education throughout their careers; and the compassion to provide hands-on patient care at the bedside—as they have done throughout the centuries.”

“Nurses Week provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the spirit of nursing and acknowledge the tireless efforts of these vital health professionals. It is also important to take time out during National Nurse’s Week to thank nurses for what they do and remind the public just how vital our nation’s nurses are to patients, their family and society.”

Nurses are found in many areas of healthcare….hospitals, surgical centers, long term care, personal care homes, physician offices, public health systems, school systems and in occupational medicine. Many have furthered their education and established themselves in advanced roles of certified nurse anesthetists or nurse practitioners. Opportunities in the nursing field are many and many more nurses are needed.

“I would like to publicly recognize our nurses for the important role they play in the lives of so many,” stated Bray, “from the nurses who work in our physician offices, to those who work in Case Management, those employed in our Cardiopulmonary department, those in our Surgical Services department, those who care for our patients in the Emergency Room, Med/Surg Unit, and ICU, those who hold leadership positions and to our Home Health nurses who provide care to patients in their home. My sincere appreciation goes out to all our nurses, not just during this week, but throughout the year. Each of them is a unique, skilled and caring individual whose kindness, dedication and love of nursing is portrayed in the quality care they give to their patients.”

“As we celebrate National Nurse’s Week, I hope all nurses will take the time to reflect on how rewarding a nursing career can be and to share your passion for nursing with others. This week is an opportunity to take stock, and take pride in what you accomplish as nurses, and hopefully to inspire others to choose this challenging and fulfilling profession," Bray concluded.

Pictured l-r at the kickoff of Nurse's Week Celebration are: Pam Bray, RN, Senior Leader of Patient Care/Director of Nursing; Amy Peterson, LPN, Employee Health and Infection Control; Colleen Long, RN; Jill Whittemore, RN, Med/Surg Leader; Angela Iozzo, LPN. This reception kicks off the week of food, trinkets, free lunches from leadership, free subscriptions to a nursing magazine, and lots of gifts and sweet treats around the clock.
(Photo provided by Kane Community Hospital)