Nurses Week--What did you get?

We had a free luncheon in the auditorium of a ritzy retirement home. Staff Association covered the cost for lasagna, caesar salad, pop, cake and tea/coffee. Each nurse got a chocolate rose and a penlight with the company logo on it.

Each group practise did something...talked about a special patient, did a skit, etc. We made a skit out of the piece "When God Made Nurses", and one of the other groups did a piece on "What They Don't Tell You About Community Nursing During Orientation!" It was hilarious! How to sweet-talk the case manager into authorizing extra visits...how to check voice mail on your day off without letting your family know what you're doing...how to drive, talk on your cell phone and eat your lunch all at the same time...

One of the nurses talked about a cancer patient who'd been very special to me, and I was in tears by the time she was done! This lady had the most HORRIBLE tumor I have ever seen, but had such a strong desire to live. She was a shining example of courage, but a total pain in the butt sometimes, because everything had to be done HER way!

We had a draw for door prizes. I got the least expensive one... an apple pie, while one of my teammates won the grand prize: a weekend for two at a bed and breakfast in cottage country!

All in all, it was an enjoyable time of fun, food and fellowship. And for once, I had a light enough caseload that I was able to sit back and ENJOY it!

I finshed the day with an IV restart on a patient who lived in a run-down old home with very poor lighting. After two unsuccessful pokes, he said, "Maybe we need a flashlight!" I said, "I've got one in my car." (for reading street signs and house numbers at night!) I went out to the car to get it. He held the flashlight, and I got the vein on the next try! Homecare nursing, god, I love it!!

CNA week??? When is that?

Our admin. served us latte and coffee cart on the units, an ice cream social, logo tshirt..something every day and every year we get a big party at a hotel with gourmet meal , music and entertainment. We loved it! We have our staffing problems, too, but are in process of getting our magnet status, have no union; have our nurses self governing board.All in all, a good hosp. to work at.I really feel appreciated now that I hear your tales.

Nice to see that I'm not the only one who had a disappointing nurses week. This year the announcement said something about a Nurses Week Celebration in one of the meeting rooms -- no mention of a free lunch, so all of us had already run to Subway,spent our own money and grabbed a bite. The "celebration" was to go on until 5:00 pm but when we arrived around 3:00 the meeting room was completely empty and all the food gone, save a few willted lettuce leaves. We had to rummage around in a supply closet to find our free "gifts", a blue duffle bag. There was no one from administration or nursing service around to greet us or to even say "Sorry,we ran out of food".

Nothing...not even a "Happy Nurse's Week".

We got a insulated lunch bag for the hospital. My boss bought 1 box of muffins and a box of gourmet cookies for all three shifts ( which were very good). They had "make your own yougurt sundaes" in the cafateria ....but the yougurt machine was broken.....
Beats the year we got drug rep freebees in a white paper bag......

What did I get for Nurse's Week? Same thing as every week...I got screwed.. HAHA..kidding...lemme see..I got a votive candle and holder...I think it was from the dollar store...AND, it was from a "draw"...so not all the nurses got stuff... What's up with that??

We each got a $100 bonus and dinner at a 5 star resturaunt with the CEO's (who were more than willing to listen to our concerns). Nursing management worked our shift for us while we enjoyed this outing. Night shift got a $200 bonus and breakfast was served to them @home in bed. LOL..okay, i'm joking.

A insulated lunch bag with the hospital logo, a cookie from the Chocolate Chip Cookie Company every day of the week for each shift (was damn tired of these cookies by the end of week), barbeque from a local resturaunt (night shift was forgotten, again), and a handbag with the hospital logo ..and a call from infection control telling us our precious patient who has been roaming the floor, in the playroom, in the pantry, in the cafeteria, etc. has MRSA

If you there during the week- one cookie form a wonderful box of biscuits sent on the weekend, lunch one day from subway, and a small water bottle. Big hairy deal. My neice's teacher got something everyday for that week. The school nurse did not receive anything.

we got a few pieces of left over easter candy