Nurse's Appreciation Week Article

Where I use to work (alf for 4 years), our DON would create a poster for all the residents to sign and display that week for us floor nurses. Balloons and flowers in the break room from administrative staff, and lots of home baked goodies! YUMMMMMM! My favorite was my DON's theme baggies she gave all of us!

These were lovely gift bags with themed items in them for spoiling nurses! She had a card that explained each item...for instance "always take time to relax" and there would be a nice CD of soft music, or "take time to put your feet up" and there would be some wonderful mint foot lotion. Or "you light up someones dark day" and a nice scented candle! She would have about 10 thing in each gift bag! It certainly was sooooo nice! She got items from the dollar tree (she footed the bill herself because the facilty wouldn't!)...so it wasn't expensive but meant so very much!

I have been a nurse for 6 years...and until I worked there 4 years ago...I had never heard of Nursing Week, let alone celebrate it! I was so moved that first year I had a tear or two of joy...that thrilled my DON! (and us floor nurses would pitch in and buy the DON a nice gift like a necklace or earrings...she always really matched her accessories with her uniform so it was fun!).

Now I work agency in a local hospital (med surge)...I am pretty sure they don't celebrate it...maybe a nice food spread or something one day...but that proably is about it. I will miss my little goodie bag!

How I would like it to be done and appreciated now? Actually staff well so that the nurses are 'appreciated' by not having to work short staffed for that week...heck I would take a day or two at this point (our hospital has been on divert and full status for two weeks now! It has been crazy!!!!).

LOL, that or lend us nurses a doc to do RN duties and float on a floor and see what we do for that week...pretty sure that MD will tell the others what it is like and hopefully bridge some of the gaps! I know I would appreciate that! LOL!!!!!!!! "Oh doctor, that patient of yours in 509 needs to get to the bsc again!"...LOL!!!!!!

sorry but when IS nurses appreciation week so that i can appreciate my fav nurses

sorry but when IS nurses appreciation week so that i can appreciate my fav nurses

National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th.

Our hospital celebrates "Hospital Week"......and we all benefit all week long! Of course there are special gifts just for the nurses (and usually quite nice ones I might add), and other smaller gifts throughout the week. In addition, the administrative staff cooks lunch for everyone (grilled hamburgs, hot dogs, brats, and all the fixins)....AND serves everyone too! They even come in and grill at about 1-2 a.m., and cart their food to all the units for the night shifters too. Administration makes frequent rounds to the floors with carts of goodies, baked goods and ice cream sundaes, etc, so we can all stop a moment and have a cup of coffee and chat - usually for just a few minutes until we have to get back on task! We celebrate nurses with displays from the different units - just to show everyone what it is that we do, and what we're proud of, and we have displays of nursing paraphenalia of days past. It's all quite interesting. Of course, we are recognized all throughout the year from a very generous and complimenting administration with little "treats", so during this one week, they try to top what is viewed as the norm, so it's usually quite special. Of course our manager also gives us a little treat too, and we, her. A little off the subject...we have kudos boards for everyday use...to pass along special compliments, and our manager sometimes will put a "Slip" in your mailbox - not a pink slip- but an "I caught you doing something good" slip. It all makes for good relationships all year long. All of this works just fine for me, it's nice to hear and see frequently that you're appreciated. Obviously I work at a hospital, I've been there for 15 years. All 15 years I've worked on med-surg, and just like TriageRN_34, we've been full too these past couple of weeks.....but, I STARTED VACATION TODAY!!!! Only 9 days off this time, but hey, I'm happy to take it!

National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th.

Thanks

Do you celebrate Nurse's Day/week? If so, how? Only at work

Do your superiors show appreciation? Free Lunch and a small but nice gift

How long have you been a nurse? What type of nurse? LPN 26 yrs & RN 4 years

Do you work in a hospital, private office, clinic, etc...? Hosp and HH PRN

Do you have nurse's day traditions? Celebrate with former classmates, etc...? No, but that's a nice idea, might just try it this year

How would you like to be shown appreciation? A sincere Thank You from a patient is awesome