Nurses Week--What did you get?

dtweed · May 16, 2001

After reading what nurses received for nurses week, it made me sad. I am now in administration as a ADON in LTC. the DON, Inservice Director, and myself put on a luncheon for the nurses. Only 6 out of 16 came. We also gave them a plant in a small pot. Everyone said thank you. But I am also a nurse and did not receive anything. Not even a Happy Nurses Week. What we did came out of our pockets. Most LTC facilities are barely managing it finically, so there is nothing to spare. We try to give to make it better for the nurses i work with but it needs to a two way steet. Did any of you do anything for nursing supervisors during nurses week? I would like feedback on this side of the issue.

NurseNelly · May 16, 2001

Nursing week was great. We all got $100.00 bonus. We all got foot massages and gift certificates to body massages. Plus they hired agency nurses so we could view some great video nursing videos on how to handle family and patients when we work short staffed ( which is often) plus what to do legally when we feel we might be sued by unhappy family members or by our own company.

It was a great week. Thanks.

Magicat · May 16, 2001

This year was quite dismal.

We are having Joint Commission next week, so I think they nearly forgot. :eek:

We got neat umbrellas with the logo on them. :cool:

And had a motivational speaker come, (again, every yr since I've been here 4) and talked on the topic "Make your words sweet and tender, cause you never know when you'll have to eat them!" Last year it was "No Mean Spirit"

Day shift got a wonderful homemade Mexican meal from our Orthopod's wife, but we didn't. :confused: We usually get all the ortho post ops after 3pm. Oh well. The Ladie's Auxillary made cookies and gave each unit a plate, but not each shift.

Oh enough, I think next yr will be better. Last yr was foot and neck massages, aroma therapy candles, loufas, and for the guys soap on a rope...all relaxing stuff.

[ May 16, 2001: Message edited by: Magicat ]

nrsjo · May 16, 2001

Nurses week wasn't acknowledged where I work. Therefore, we got nothing.

TopazStone · May 16, 2001

We got clipboards with a space for papers, pens and supplies on the inside. We also got monthly planners with and address section. We had pizza and pop for lunch. I teased our director, "Now we don't have an excuse for being organized, huh?" I also got a beautiful card from a former patient, a white rose and a box of chocolate. I thought it was nice-- last year I got a carnation in the little plastic holder from the grocery store.

NJDiane · May 16, 2001

For "Nurses Week" nothing.

For Nursing Home Week, a flashlight keychain teeshirt, and free taco lunch. Anyone connected with the operation of our facility received the same things.

capgirl · May 16, 2001

I currently work 3 part time/Per Diem jobs. At the hospital, a fruit & candy basket was brought to the unit on Wednesday. At the nursing home, they just made an announcement over the PA to thank the nurses. At my third job, an ARC, there was no mention of nurses day at all.

Last year, I got a handy pocket calculator.

susyqrn · May 16, 2001

At the hospital I work at, they called it "patient services week".

We got little miscellaneous items in a little baggie that were donated from different companies, which included a pen light, a mini PDR, etc. They gave them out last Fri., and if you weren't there, you got nada.

isabella · May 16, 2001

my, my - some of these negative comments remind me of the days when i was a "real" nurse... i can remember feeling resentful and angry at administration most of the time. it was always the old "us" and "them" standoff. and then the unthinkable happened, i became ONE OF THEM!!! so, for nurses week here in little old estherville, iowa, we partied all week - we had several doorprizes to give away each day (and they were good things!), we had a HUGE bowl filled with chocolate goodies every day, we had all the nurses bring their nursing school graduation photos to post and had a contest to "name that nurse", we had a "happy birthday, flo" party, we had a big bulletin board covered with "stuff" about nursing, and we had a lot of fun....because i am lucky to work with fantastic nurses and even luckier to work with a great CEO. so come work here and be happy. remember, if ya hate what you're doing, you're the only person that can change it! ciaobella!

isabella · May 16, 2001

it's me again...nurse ratchett - i wanted to mention that we included both shifts (we do 12-hour shifts here) - we are VERY careful to include both shifts in everything.

what i really wanted to add was - as nurses, aka humans, we all want to be recognized, valued, and rewarded.... the problem with us nurses is we're our own worst enemy. we've never demanded respect, so we don't get it. we as a group, as a profession, can't even decide on how to be ONE organization... how many national organizations does nursing have? we are totally fragmented and until we come together as one (like the AMA), we will never have a credible voice or any influence or any power. we are like a group of oppressed people - we have feel powerless against the oppressor (which most nurses see as administration) so we strike out laterally against each other. in other words, other shifts or other nurses - causing more fragmentation! maybe instead of all the complaining we do, we should create one powerful voice and do something about our lack of respect...because we're the ones responsible for it! and now i shall step off the soapbox.....

nelson95 · May 16, 2001

We had our nurses week cancelled due to ongoing job action. All I've ever seen happen here is the administrators delivering ice cream. The chronic neglect of nurses has led to a very terrible situation here in British Columbia. Thats why I'm off to Co. after one more shift. :cool:

Barbara Rose · May 16, 2001

I got nothing from my home health agency, nothing from the state where I contract, but one of my attorney/clients send me chocolate! Now, that man knows how to get to a woman's heart, especially when you are already down. But other than that, nothing. Hey, I didn't even get gifts for mother's day from 2 of my 3 children, and my husband worked on his truck all day.