A nurse's week story

TazziRN, RN · May 11, 2007

Not really. The hospital was treated to nurses' week but I lost my job. Nice present.

Nur_1996 · May 11, 2007

My husband is a instructor of massage therapy. His students came in tonight, to give us a little chair massage. The staff enjoyed it.

Silverdragon102, BSN · May 11, 2007

that was a lovely surprise. In the places I have worked in the UK we don't have nurses week not sure about other places in the UK

LPN2RNin6 · May 11, 2007

Our facility was great..Monday we recieved flowers, Tuesday we got duffel bags with company logo on them and pizza.... Wednesday Ice cream, Thursday chips and salsa, and today we are getting a free 10 minute massage. I think they did pretty well...lol

liebling5, MSN, RN · May 11, 2007

This year the hospital where I work went all out for nurse's week. Monday there was a symposium honoring nurses who were nominated by their peers for outstanding contributions. Our NM paid for breakfast Tues, Wed and Thurs. Nursing staff received a pretty nice steth w name tags on them. We got an $8 gift card for the cafeteria, a couple of cookies and ice cream. :balloons: But the best gifts I got were from the patients themselves. I d/c'd a lady this evening (trached) who blew me a kiss as she left. Then, another pt asked me if I did sign language (I do). He said that he could see me doing sign language so no one "would feel left out". :icon_hug:

It's true that many people don't even know it's nurses week. Shall we do some more education? :idea: So, let's find ways to celebrate ourselves. A unit next to mine hand-made this huge poster with encouragements on it. I love the massage idea.

{{{{Tazzi}}}} So sorry you lost your job this week. :angryfire As talented as you are, it won't be long before you have something else.

EmerNurse, BSN, RN · May 11, 2007

Our hospital did some things, meals and such, mostly on day shift. Us night shifters did get a free breakfast brought to us by the directors - had croissants, fruit cups, cheese - that was nice.

One thing I did notice though is that Nurses' Week is now combined with Hospital Week! What the heck is that???? Not enough weeks in the year (52 last I heard) that they had to squeeze in our OUR week?? Kind of overshadowed things, you know?

Still we got an umbrella with a logo - so better than nothing. Now if we can just talk about staffing....(sigh)

James Huffman · May 11, 2007

You know, I've figured out a way for hospitals to save a ton of money.

They need to proclaim every week as nurses week. And every week, have some token celebration. You know, a plate of chicken nuggets. Or a teddy bear with a stethescope. Just something every week.

And then bomb nurses' salaries back to the stone ages. And you know what? There'd be nurses who would just be as happy as clams. They would finally be getting Recognition!

It's the pink collar fields that get their "weeks." No engineers week, no doctors week, no lawyers week. But nurses and other predominantly female fields get their "weeks" and in exchange, nurses don't demand what they should get paid.

People think I'm joking. I'm not. A company I do work for periodically has breakfasts for their nurses. It doesn't set them back too far, and the nurses love it. Then the company sends me emails grumbling that I don't show up. Well, it's because I'm too busy making money on the morning of their breakfast. I don't care if I'm "recognized." I don't care if I'm "loved." Nor should any of us. Quietly, insistently demand that you get paid more. Move often, so companies/hospitals/whatever know that you are serious and that if they don't cough up the cash, you're out the front door. Getting paid very well for my expertise is recognition enough for me.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · May 11, 2007

Golly, we have celebrated all week long and there were articles in the paper. The Lions club gave an award to one nurse from each hospital (nominated by peers). Our hospital gave us free breakfast one day, lunch another (catered, in the parking lot, with a band), meals for the night folks, gifts, snacks and a movie tonight in the parking lot. Sorta like a drive-in movie. It is family oriented and hot dogs, cokes and popcorn will be served. The whole hospital gets to participate this week, but it is in honor of the nurses.

eltrip · May 11, 2007

There is "Doctors' Appreciation Day." The physicians who use our hospital usually get a gift from Cutter & Buck. The nurses in our office rec'd the same gift for "Nurses' Day."

I do get what you're saying, though, Mr. Huffman. Could part of the issue be that other professions usually have other perquisites that are provided to the employees...bonuses, even? Pink-collar fields usually deal with the young and the sick. These two segments of our population are sadly, not valued by our society. While those who are in these fields are often very dedicated, they are frequently not regarded as essential either by our society or their employees. These recognition weeks are nothing more than a bone being thrown to those in these fields (it's Teacher's Week, too) in place of actual respect and pay.

RGN1 · May 11, 2007

that was a lovely surprise. In the places I have worked in the UK we don't have nurses week not sure about other places in the UK

I noticed in "Clinton Cards" in Romford last weekend that they were promoting "Nurses & Carers Day" for this coming Saturday. First I'd heard of it outside the USA. I will be putting it on the board at work that shift to see if anyone notices!!

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · May 11, 2007

Doctors and dentists have a day- at least someone is putting full page ads in the paper as if they do.