Nurses Week/Hospital Week

synderrela · May 9, 2012

Good Morning, Gil said:

I'm sure people complained in the past: wait, why do nurses get all of the attention for a week? We (insert here, doctors, RT's, etc) work just as hard, and there's no week for us, hence: how hospital week was instituted. It's the PC thing to do. Pretty soon they'll be a "Teacher's/National school week" LOL.
I don't really care, though. I'm just glad they still call it Nurse's Week, and my husband generally buys me stuff or pampers me, so that's all that really matters LOL. I say generally, but I've only gotten to celebrate one nurse's week prior to this one, so the hope is that he continues to do so LOL. He's a good man contrary to what Flannery O'Connor says.

There is a Teachers week/day already. In fact the PTA changed the decision of Congress back in 1980 that Teacher's day should change from March 7 to May 8th, and with a full week to boot (on their own, how nice). Jerks. National Teachers day in EVERY other country is October 5th. Nice way for the PTA to move in on Nurse's Day, AND on International Nurse's Day, May 12th. Nurses' day was started in 1953, made law by Congress in 1986, and Nurses' Week made law by Congress in 1990. SOOOO Teacher's Day & Hospital Week and all that is really quite traditional then, since the actual date keeps changing and has no set MEANING, while Nurses' Day and Nurses' Week TRULY should be recognized (Florence Nightengale, Tradition, History...etc). Instead I went to work, got a freaking cookie, argued with another coworker that it was ALSO Nurses' Week/Day, and realized how truly sad the whole situation really was. I recognize the work EVERYONE does at the hospital, which is why in the past, CNA's, PCT's, RT's, Physicians, Ancillary staff and volunteers ALL had days were they were recognized individually. In fact, just three weeks ago we had Volunteer's Day...And wasn't it just Administrative Professionals Day?? Double Dipping!

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · May 9, 2012

I remember when I worked in the hospital this was all I'd hear: "Nurse's shouldn't be the only ones to get special attention", "Why should nurses be the only ones to get free stuff", etc etc. Ok, fair enough. But WHEN were the nurses the ONLY ONES to EVER get xxx? It's always been a grab--"hey, where's MY free cr*p?"--but don't you dare suggest that all the other 'weeks' be merged into a singular Everybody's Special Week. Do that, and you're just being a greedy nurse.

Probably shouldn't get me started on how the night nurses missed out on all the free stuff that the dayshifters got, from free meals to the Perks at Work stuff from vendors brought in to showcase their wares (and of course give out free samples, tote bags, pens, whatever).

We were often lucky to get a veggie platter and/or cold cuts. Maybe.

SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS · May 9, 2012

It's not the point of "getting free stuff." It's just nice to feel appreciated, in a more directed way, I guess. Where I work if anything "difficult" comes up, like if forms get lost (often), a patient acts out, a doc has trouble with a schedule- call a nurse.

Our director of nursing said, that the nurses are perceived as more educated and better able to handle these things (more like,

"you ladies make the big bucks, you handle it") -- but it's really nice to feel thanked and respected for a change, for handling it and making it look seamless and easy.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · May 9, 2012

Agreed about the free stuff; I guess it's the only way that they DO show appreciation so of course we want it! :) Free=Gift, which of course is what people expect as a means of showing appreciation.

Can you imagine the boss who gives his administrative assistant (used to be called Secretary's Day!) a COOKIE? A boss who can look forward to some shredded papers on his desk....

wooh, BSN, RN · May 9, 2012

synderrela said:

Nurses' Week made law by Congress in 1990.

I said something at the "Hospital Week" a couple years ago to an admin, and was told very smugly, "It's hospital WEEK, it's only nurses DAY." Idiot. Took my popsicle and went back to work.

Yes people, we get a POPSICLE. So haha you folks that only get a mere cookie!

GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN · May 9, 2012

wooh said:

yes people, we get a popsicle. so haha you folks that only get a mere cookie!

needless to say, I'm ashamed for administration & managers that behave in the manner you just described, and mind you I'm in administration. having said that, at times I feel like I'm speaking in tongues, when I'm in a meeting with the so called administration. however, this is the reason why I took over and went beyond anyone's expectations and so far I'm here to say that nurses week, has over shadowed hospital's week in the facility where I work because...

nurses rock!!

NurseNellyboof · May 9, 2012

Wow after reading all this I feel so lucky! My hospital has an event everyday of the week (mostly having to do with food, BBQ, breakfast) today we had a Florence Nightingale Blessing of the Hands ceremony and a raffle at the end of the week with great gifts! This is my first Nurses Week (graduated year ago) and so far it's been fantastic!

nurseintx0511 · May 9, 2012

We could "donate" $10 and get a "free" Nurse's Week t-shirt, that we can wear on specified days thru out the year. Or we could buy stuff at the bake sale. lol

Good Morning, Gil · May 9, 2012

lol, I know there's a teacher's week, but I meant they would subscribe to the same formula, making it National Teachers/School Week, celebrating, I don't know, the whole school, and the students, too. lol. Guess I didn't make that clear, though.

RanieRN, MSN, RN · May 9, 2012

So far we've received...a small bag of some pretzel/chocolate snack stuff the OT department makes with the residents. There's a "Nurses' Luncheon" tomorrow so we'll see if we get anything else. One year they gave us insulated lunchbags with the corporate logo plastered all over it and a cookie with the same logo. :icon_roll

sinbad · May 9, 2012

RNsRWe said:

OMG, laughing so hard. "here, nursie nursie, come get your cookie--you're such a GOOD girl"!! LOL....

We got a small bag of popcorn but only the day shift and evening shift got it night shift out of luck. Happy Nurses Week to all the wonderful nurses!

merrywhiterose · May 9, 2012

That REALLY sucks!!!