Happy Flippin' Nurse's Day

Published

Wow. The company I work for used to be really good about treating nurses well during nurse's week. One year they hired a massage therapist to give 15 minute chair massages. Then one year they bought us lunch. Well this year.....a blood drive was organized.....for us nurses to donate to. Free food for those who donate. :eek: Is it just me, or is that pretty....ummmm.....what's the word....CRAPPY? I guess the bad economy is their excuse....Are there ANY decent places to work????

Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

We didn't get much- an open coffee bar for a few hrs one day, posters and notices various places about the hospital. The medical staff that works most directly withour unit sent a nice box of candy for each shift. That was fine. I don't want gifts, note pads, tote bags.... when all we hear is the budget is tight, OT is rarely approved, equipment is falling apart, and every department is getting budget cuts. Keep what ever money you would spend on "Nurses Day (week) " and put it towards those things I need to provide good care for my patients. Nursing is my vocation, not my holy calling. Give me adequate staff and equipment to do my job and I can pick up my nurses day present every two weeks on payday.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Nurse's Day is enough, when did it get to be "Nurse's WEEK"?

IIRC, 1972.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
We got two bags...each contained a snack pack of Cheez-Its, a package of Starburst, Stride gum, ad a bag of pretzels. And the people we rent our bariatric beds brought it.

I find it ironic the people who sell bariatric beds chose to bring not only food but junk food. Are they trying to tell your nursing floor something? Or just hoping they'll have a few of you as personal clients eventually? :lol2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in pulm/cardiology pcu, surgical onc.

Pastoral Care felt sorry for our unit and bought day shift a cake. I work nocs. Yes, we're magnet too. But we did get a happy nurse's week on the whiteboard. Yippee.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

For the second year in a row, we received nothing. Three years ago I received a plastic keychain with the hospital's logo, which I placed directly into the round file. Four years ago I received a coupon for a free small drink in the cafeteria.

Of course, for doctor's week, it's banners everywhere, special catered meals, bottles of wine, etc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.
I tend to disagree that this is "for free."

I believe that we, to at least some degree, earn a little recognition, a little thanks.

Seriously, we ARE THE HOSPITAL!

Perhaps I'm being selfish, but I have given so much to my healthcare system over the years. I'm not looking for handouts, but the occasional "attagirl" would be nice.

~ I haven't had a family dinner since Christmas 2008, or attended a family reunion since 2007

~ I was kicked in the head by a patient and given a concussion

~ I can't count the times I've also played escort, unit clerk, tech, dietary staff, etc.

~ I spent six nights of one week at my hospital because of inclement weather this year

~ I've been told by management that I am given harder assignments on purpose for the sake of the unit (over less strong nurses)

I accept all of this, and I actually don't mind...but not once have I been thanked or even acknowledged for any of the above.

And in no way am I saying that I am more deserving of recognition than others; in fact, we all have reasons why we are great nurses and our employers should be grateful for our service. Because, beloved, there are some things money doesn't buy...

If you hadn't spent those nights at the hospital, if you had refused to play escort, unit clerk, etc., if you refused the more difficult assignments---you would have been written up, perhaps even terminated.

Why is it so freaking difficult for someone to just say....

"Thanks for all your hard work this shift"?

Is that so horrendously difficult? Is that really asking too much?

Gotta say when I worked LTC I tried to make sure to thank the CNAs at the end of the shift. Some of them looked rather shocked because apparently no one ever thought to tell them they were appreciated. (On the other hand, I am sure I would have coded on the spot had my last manager ever said "thank you".)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/ER.
I find it ironic the people who sell bariatric beds chose to bring not only food but junk food. Are they trying to tell your nursing floor something? Or just hoping they'll have a few of you as personal clients eventually? :lol2:

I should be happy they didn't bring more!!!!! If they brought something every day of the week I would go up (another size)! on the bright side, nights all brought in a dish, veggies, salsa, etc and we buffeted for ourselves!!!!! Hence the increased pants size. Dang but it was worth it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Health Information Management.

Not being a nurse, I'm curious about one point. If your hospital were having budget issues and had done the things some of you have brought up, like eliminating raises, cutting back on new/replacement equipment, pushing back against OT, etc., but did a fair amount for Nurses' Week (let's say a gift credit card with $30 on it, free massages for each shift set up in accessible areas, and maybe management types bringing in food for a big potluck-type spread). Would it be well-received? Or would it just throw all the things that the hospital didn't have the money to do into higher relief?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry, Case Management.

The last place I worked at as a floor nurse had "Hospital Week" and we got tote bags, key chains, etc all with the hospital logo on it. Most of which fell apart in six weeks time. And we were told "Thanks for all you do" so much it sounded like a broken record (spoken, written, ad nauseum), we wondered if it were a script for Press Gainey.

The place where I work now, we got some applause at a meeting. Oh, and they mailed me a certificate of appreciation. Granted, it IS a MUCH better working environment, but I'd feel more appreciated if ANY place would say it with COLD HARD CASH!!!!!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR Hearts 10.
Not being a nurse, I'm curious about one point. If your hospital were having budget issues and had done the things some of you have brought up, like eliminating raises, cutting back on new/replacement equipment, pushing back against OT, etc., but did a fair amount for Nurses' Week (let's say a gift credit card with $30 on it, free massages for each shift set up in accessible areas, and maybe management types bringing in food for a big potluck-type spread). Would it be well-received? Or would it just throw all the things that the hospital didn't have the money to do into higher relief?

We used to get a ham or turkey between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Last year we were told the cost of it was enough to pay 1 clerk/tech/orderly for a year. Oh well....

For Nurses week (last week) got fruit trays one day, had a progressive lunch one day, like anyone has time to roam the hospital to get food (that we had to cook). Our two sister units didn't participate but did anyone tell us...nope.

No gift last week, but got a keychain yesterday for hospital week...on 5-12...do they not know or care that that was actually Nurses Day!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion