Nurses week Cheap gifts from admin.

James Huffman · May 3, 2002

Perhaps those who received no gift should be grateful. Perhaps what they really received was a recognition that professionals don't have "National ____ Day."

I would argue that as long as nurses have "Nurses Day," "Nurses Week," "Nurses Month," or whatever, it will be an indication that we still have a long ways to go before being recognized as the professionals we are.

Think about it: how silly would it sound to have "Accountants day"? "IT professionals week"? "Engineers month"?

I appreciate that some hospitals and other companies that employee lots of nurses feel the need to do some token recognition. Perhaps next year, though, we should all say -- explicitly or implicitly -- "Thanks very much for the thought, but we have a job to do." Then do it. Professional independence is something nurses must foster within ourselves. It is patronizing and condescending to have such days, weeks, or months. And as long as we have them, we are guaranteed to remain semi-professionals at best.

Jim Huffman, RN

http://www.networkfornurses.com

jules-RN · May 3, 2002

Originally posted by zumalong
Let's see in 1988 I received a key chain that said happy nurses day.

In 1989 I was given a tote bag that had handles that held up until I put my car keys with the key chain inside of it.

In the 90's we had to conserve money so I didn't get much more than a free ice cream from the cafeteria (they only serve one the 2nd full moon of the 7th month in a leap year and then only on the night shift when the cafe is not open.

In 2000 I acquired a pen (taken from stash for the PA's and NP's)

In 2001 I was given a bar of dial soap. (extras on the linen carts)

This year--I am not sure--But I am looking forward to it. I'm hoping for some surgical tape.:biggringi

:rotfl:

At my last job, one year we got an ugly tote bag with the hospital's mission on it. Another year we got a flimsy towel that was see-thru even before I washed it the first time. And the last little trinket of their affection I got was one of those lanyards (a.k.a. choke collar) that had a ring on it that I never figured out how to attach my ID to.

I'll be interested to see what this facility I am at now will do.

And by the way...

:nurse: HAPPY NURSE'S DAY TO EVERYONE! :nurse:

Stargazer · May 3, 2002

Back in the day, when my old hospital was actually interested in deserving their "magnet hospital" status, we used to have it pretty good for Nurses' Week--similar to what Gomer described.

There was a Health & Wellness Fair with food, free BP and cholesterol checks, vendors giving away free t-shirts, mugs, etc., travel agents selling cruises and vacations at discounted rates, on-site facials and makeovers, etc. There was also a formal luncheon with a keynote speaker discussing nursing issues. Lots of signage in the hospital and free food every day--cakes, pizzas, espresso coupons, you name it. Best of all: in ICU we had a massage therapist come in and set up in an empty room. For 2 days, nurses from all 3 shifts could sign up for a 20-minute chair massage during their shift. Bliss. :)

I think James has a point, though. Only employees who get treated like crap the rest of the year require their own designated celebratory day or week to make up for it.

And jules--your avatar is so damned cute I can't stand it! :cool:

nurseratchett29 · May 3, 2002

I can't wait till I see how this new hospital shows it's appreciation.They had a icecream social at the busiest time of the day today for the whole staff and the secretaries got towels for secretaries day a couple of weeks ago so I HOLD MY BREATH WITH INCREASING ANTICIPATION WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE INCREDIBLE WEALTH OF USELESS JUNK AND FREE FOOD THAT I DON'T HAVE TIME TO EAT WILL BE. If they wanted to show appreciation, they could give us flex time once in a while or offer some "stay signed" bonuses. They offer all kinds of sign on bonues but what about giving us a bonus for appreciating the fact that we show up every day?

Rustyhammer · May 3, 2002

Most years I get nothing.

last year I got a tin of mints.

one year I got a cheesy pin with a big 5 on it to signify 5 years of service (I had been there 8 years).

One year I got a popsicle (cherry)

a lanyard (I hate things on my neck)

one year I was offered to go on salary (ya right!)

This year I hear we get breakfast at the cafeteria (from 8-8:30...med pass.)

This year a bunch of us are going after work for margaritas!! (my idea-oh..on our own of course)

-Russell

jones58 · May 4, 2002

Next Monday we are suppose to get a soup and sandwich meal, from 4p-6p. Unfortunately, I will still be passing meds until almost 7p or later. What I would like is a foot massage, a really good one, at the beginning of the shift and at the end of the shift.

BjOnrs · May 4, 2002

One of the hospitals I +USED+ to work at required the nurses to each bring a gift so they could drawn from the pile for Nurses Week. What cheapskates!! You actually were written up if you didn't participate. Gimme a break.

stevierae · May 4, 2002

tms, where do you work? I take travel assignments in CA all the time; think I would like to check out your facility next.

The most tacky thing we've ever received, at a hospital where I was staff, was lollipops with a ribbon tied to them that said, "Our Nurses Can't Be Licked!!" Shoulda said, "We Think Our Nurses Are Real Suckers!" To make it even worse, they were that type of sucker called "Dum-Dums." Do you think there was a hidden message there? I'm sure they (management) had a good laugh at that; probably thought we were too stupid to pick up on it.

Sometimes they had these lame ice cream socials, that no one could get off the floor to go to anyway, with cheap generic ice cream and all the admin and management types there (who always looked like the LAST thing they needed was an ice cream sundae.) Also, every stray doctor and resident felt free to join the party.

I have been at some travel assignments where they went ALL OUT for the nurses. I was doing some IV teaching at a rural hospital last year; they had something very nice EVERY SINGLE DAY of Nurses' Week. One day they had yoga classes; one day a 30 minute massage; one day a facial; a REALLY impressive barbecue (free), with chicken breasts and all kinds of gourmet deli salads and vegetarian entrees,all kinds of breads and sodas and bottled water, watermelon,---plus they had a string quartet come in during the afternoon (throughout lunches) to play classical music one day, and a bluegrass band the next--you get the picture. It was REALLY nice. Even though I was not staff, I was invited to join the festiviies every day. I have always had nice experiences like that at rural hospitals.

I noticed when I was there that the L&D, nursery nurses, and Peds nurses had really, really cute scrubs and warm up jackets; you know, those designer ones with adorable kid-friendly patterns that you usually have to buy yourself out of a catalog. These, however, were purchased by the hospital for them.

What I would like to get, in lieu of management's lame ice cream socials and lollipops, is $$$. Say it with money. That shows appreciation better than anything else.

Stormy · May 4, 2002

I tend to agree with your point of view about nursing professionalism, Jim.

As well, it seems that the little "trinkets" do absolutely nothing but insult those who they are intended to please. I would like to believe that no administration would actually go out of their way to find gifts that would purposefully put down their staff.

Where I work, I know that administration cannot afford to buy some of the nice gifts that some have described, so perhaps they should be told how the small trinkets make people feel. Nurses get paid ~$30.00/hr. which is a fairly decent wage. Maybe we are being paid adequately in lieu of silly gifts??

ArenRN, BSN, RN · May 4, 2002

Last year the Chief Nurse came around with a cart : cookies and Kool Aid. I asked her to work on giving us a coupon for 12 hrs Excused abcense to be used anytime during the year. (This is what we used to get at another VA.) She said she would check with the director...we´ll see....

l.rae · May 4, 2002

Stevierae, LMAO!!!! I did have a drunken moron pt once who offered to suck my toes. Brother would that have soberd him up fast! Anyway, enjoyed your lolipop story. Happy nurses week to all!

panda_181 · May 4, 2002

Well apparently up here in the north, they are having a nurse's dinner type thing where it's $25 a ticket! Meaning...how many people are actually going to go? I have no idea...

Amanda :)