Let's celebrate!

As a nurse manager, you have the opportunity to make everyday a special day of recognition for your staff. There does not have to be a "national" day. Your nurses should be celebrated everyday. Perhaps you can plan a recognition party, a recognition bulliten board---But these things will not be as appreciated as much as support, kind words and daily recognition of a job well done.

imDonna-I like your idea about the display--Think about this: Everyone I've ever talked to, esp. other nurses on other floors think all we do is hold babies on the OB floor, so-how about highlighting all your staff does? Ante-partum, high risk L&D, your NICU, how about high risk OB pts (maternal age, multips, multiple fetus, those high risk infertility pts, etc etc)? How about the teaching they do--breast feeding/infant care/etc etc? Does your staff also include GYN/PEDS--alot of people don't know this about OB nursing either--We have to do it all when it comes to Womens & Childrens health care-maybe also talk about all the training we OB nurses must go through (its not unlike what ICU or ER nurses go through!!)--go for it and have fun!

Yes, there is a special day and it falls around the time of Nurse's Day. Try checking with AWHOON and with some of the maternal child journals. They usually send out a poster. I also try to do some of the things you are mentioning to encourage the staff. We really enjoy our Humor board. We post cartoons or jokes about OB. We once had a heading, "You know you are an OB nurse...." and got some hysterical and creative answers.
We too face the stereotypical thoughts that we just rock babies and talk. We have used job shadowing to dispel that myth. But there is also that special day and any of the specialty organizations could tell you.