Maria Parham Recognizes Their Nurses During National Nurses Week

National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, which is Florence Nightingale's birthday. According to the American Nurses Association website, Nightingale is best known as the founder of modern nursing. She was also a trailblazer in health science and health statistics, philosophy, political advocacy and reform, environmentalism, evidence-based practice, feminism, holistic nursing, nursing theory, and public health. History says that as early as 1953 individuals proposed to President Eisenhower to proclaim a “Nurse Day” to honor those who chose nursing as a profession. The proclamation was never made. Through the nearly four decades following, propositions were presented regarding a special day or special week to recognize nurses, but it was not until 1991 that the American Nurses Association truly recognized and celebrated National Nurses Week as May 6-12.

 

Maria Parham Medical Center chose to honor their 320 registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, surgical scrub techs and certified nursing assistants on May 10 with a catered social from 3:30-6:30 PM. The Nursing Recruitment and Retention Committee spends time each year planning a special event in recognition of nursing staff. Each nursing division employee was given a gift, and door prizes were given away at the social as well.

 

Cindy Faulkner, Vice President of Patient Care Services, comments, “We look forward to this event each year as a chance to remind nursing staff how much we appreciate their hard work and their dedication to our patients. We are so lucky to have such a large group of compassionate caregivers, many of whom have been here 10 or more years; some as long as 40 years.” She goes on to say, “We strive all year to provide a family atmosphere and good working conditions, not only during Nurses Week. Our staff works in many different departments and on various shifts so this gives them all a chance to come together for fellowship as a group.”