NURSES WEEK ACTIVITIES

CEN35 · Apr 27, 2001

I don't know what I'm doing for it? Can't say I have put a lot of thought into it. I mean, activities? Go to work, and handle complaints by all the people that think our ER is the McDonalds of medecine, and then get what do you mean I have to wait? I don't have tome to wait, I have things to do!

No Im not disgruntled either, it just gets to me sometimes. However, I usually wake up the next day and am fine. That one person and family that thank you (very rarely) help make you feel like you have done something.

Rick

kjmta57 · Apr 27, 2001

well we have a very hetic schedule next week at our facility so the nurses are going to bust our b---. But the upper management and mental health dept are having a pot luck on thursday.

-jt · Apr 28, 2001

Originally posted by wildtime88:
I have always thought nurses week was conceived as a time to show us appreciation from other non nursing entities?

I have always thought it was a time for nurses to toot their own horn & let people know why they should appreciate us!

"On May 6, 2001, the American Nurses Association is sponsoring National Nurses Week, which is held every year during May 6-12. The purpose of National Nurses Week is to raise public awareness of the value of nursing and to help educate the public about the vital roles registered nurses play in meeting the health care needs of the American people.

A Promotion and Publicity Kit from the American Nurses Association will get you started with an array of great ideas for publicity and recognition of your indispensable nurses".

The kit is available online & may be copied for use. Just click the links on the page.

http://www.nursingworld.org/pressrel/nnw/index.htm

-jt · Apr 28, 2001

Originally posted by kjmta57:
well we have a very hetic schedule next week at our facility so the nurses are going to bust our b---. But the upper management and mental health dept are having a pot luck on thursday.

Nice. And how long does it take to write a letter or do any of those ideas in the ANAs
Nurses Week kit? In a whole week, your facility couldnt find the time to honor its staff nurses on their national day of recognition? Not even for a danish & coffee in the AM with a little 5 mintue speech of gratitude from your administrator?
Thats terrible. Nurses are leaving because of a lack of respect & supervisors continue it like this. Unbelievable!
How is morale over there?

Ellen in Ont · Apr 28, 2001

Nurses in our hospital are paying $25 each to go to a supper where everyone will nominate nurses they believe deserve special recognition. These will be posted on the walls at dinner. We will also be having an "open mike" to relate our favourite funny nursing story. We will also be displaying some old nursing memorabialia (old uniforms, nursing exams etc). It sounds like it's going to be fun!

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Apr 28, 2001

May 6-12

History of National Nurses Week http://www.nursingworld.org/pressrel/nnw/nnwhist.htm

"Nurses are the True Spirit of Caring" is this year's theme for National Nurses Week, celebrated May 6-12 each year. National Nurses Week begins May 6 and ends on May 12, Florence Nightingale's birthday. These permanent dates enhance planning and position National Nurses Week as an established recognition event. As of 1998, May 8 was designated as National Student Nurses Day, to be celebrated annually, as well.

The nursing profession has been supported and promoted by the American Nurses Association (ANA) since 1897. Each of ANA's 53 state and territorial nurses associations promotes the nursing profession at the state and regional levels. Each conducts celebrations on these dates to recognize the contributions that nurses and nursing make to the community.

The ANA supports and encourages National Nurses Week recognition programs through the state and district nurses associations, other specialty nursing organizations, educational facilities, and independent health care companies and institutions.

A brief history of National Nurses Week

1953 Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare sent a proposal to President Eisenhower to proclaim a "Nurse Day" in October of the following year. The proclamation was never made.

1954 National Nurse Week was observed from October 11 - 16. The year of the observance marked the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale's mission to Crimea. Representative Frances P. Bolton sponsored the bill for a nurse week. Apparently, a bill for a National Nurse Week was introduced in the 1955 Congress, but no action was taken. Congress discontinued its practice of joint resolutions for national weeks of various kinds.

1972 Again a resolution was presented by the House of Representatives for the President to proclaim "National Registered Nurse Day." It did not occur.

1974 In January of that year, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) proclaimed that May 12 would be "International Nurse Day." (May 12 is the birthday of Florence Nightingale.) Since 1965, the ICN has celebrated "International Nurse Day."

1974 In February of that year, a week was designated by the White House as National Nurse Week, and President Nixon issued a proclamation.

1978 New Jersey Governor Brendon Byrne declared May 6 as "Nurses Day." Edward Scanlan, of Red Bank, N.J., took up the cause to perpetuate the recognition of nurses in his state. Mr. Scanlan had this date listed in Chase's Calendar of Annual Events. He promoted the celebration on his own.

1981 ANA, along with various nursing organizations, rallied to support a resolution initiated by nurses in New Mexico, through their Congressman, Manuel Lujan, to have May 6, 1982, established as "National Recognition Day for Nurses."

1982 In February, the ANA Board of Directors formally acknowledged May 6, 1982 as "National Nurses Day." The action affirmed a joint resolution of the United States Congress designating May 6 as "National Recognition Day for Nurses."

1982 President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation on March 25, proclaiming "National Recognition Day for Nurses" to be May 6, 1982.

1990 The ANA Board of Directors expanded the recognition of nurses to a week-long celebration, declaring May 6 - 12, 1991, as National Nurses Week.

1993 The ANA Board of Directors designated May 6 - 12 as permanent dates to observe National Nurses Week in 1994 and in all subsequent years.

1996 The ANA initiated "National RN Recognition Day" on May 6, 1996, to honor the nation's indispensable registered nurses for their tireless commitment 365 days a year. The ANA encourages its 53 state and territorial nurses associations and other organizations to acknowledge May 6, 1996 as "National RN Recognition Day."

1997 The ANA Board of Directors, at the request of the National Student Nurses Association, designated May 8 as National Student Nurses Day.

So Folks, thats how Nurses Week started!

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Apr 28, 2001

5/3/01 Update on the Millennium Nurses March

Sponsored by Delaware County Nurses Assoc. & Philadelphia District 1 PSNA

Join Us on Saturday

May 5th, 2001 10AM

in Philadelphia, PA

City Hall to the Liberty Bell

As Nurses, healthcare workers and citizens

from across Pennsylvania rally:

A. To facilitate public awareness of the value of direct nursing care and our concerns regarding healthcare delivery today.

B. To encourage and support the education and recruitment of new nurses into the profession: 50% of current RN’s will retire in the next 10 to 15 year = 1.3 million nurses.

C. To increase visibility and accurate representation of nursing in the media.

Nurses will march from Philadelphia City Hall courtyard, east on Market Street to rally at Independence National Visitors Center Park, Third and Chestnut St, near the Liberty Bell (~1 1/2 miles) in the AM. We will have speakers discussing the Nursing Crisis and our Solutions, followed by tours of the Nursing Museums at Pennsylvania Hospital (Nation's first hospital) and the University of Pennsylvania.

Featured speakers are:

Christina Terranova RN, LNC, Chairperson of the Florence Project, a patient/nursing advocacy organization, will discuss workplace advocacy and ways to improve nursing retention.

Claire Mc Guire RN,C Psychiatric Clinician and President of Delaware County Nurses Association will inform you about workplace violence and preventive measures.

Margarete Lieb Zalon PhD, RN, CS, President of PSNA will present solutions to the nursing shortage.

Other speakers invited include State Senators and Representatives, union representative and staff nurses. This is OUR way of getting the message out about the concerns so many have discussed at our district meetings and on the nursing bulletin boards.

Nursinghands.com web site is donating hand lotion and paper products to our event. A commemorative march button will be given out free to our participants and educational material will be available.

Please consider sending this information to your all nursing professionals and supporters, friends and family. We hope as many persons in the tri-state area will join us to get our concerns out. Please e-mail Karen if you are attending along with the number of persons coming with you, so we can determine the amount of materials needed. Last minute marchers welcome! Thanks, and hope to meet you in Philly!

Sincerely,

Karen O.

Treasurer, Delco Nurses Assoc., Inc./District 23 PSNA

[email protected]

Ivory Coleman RN, MSN

President

District 1 PSNA

Additional Information:

Philadelphia City Hall is located at intersection of Broad and Market streets.

Gathering time at City Hall, inner courtyard is 10AM. Entrance is midblock on each side of street.

We hope to leave by 10:15AM, walk down Market Street and arrive at Independence Park by 11 AM. Water will be provided here.

You will be able to sign our attendance list at the rally site.

Speakers will start by 11:15 AM lasting about 1 hr.

Lunch is on your own.

If interested in tours at Nursing Museums-

Please arrive at their location by 2PM-

Directions available at the rally site.

Please wear your Nursing Pins, ID Tag if desired.

Packets of educational information will be handed out at the end of the rally.

Press has been invited.

City Bus runs on Market street to be able to return persons to cars parked at City Hall.

Enjoy your day in Philly!

Accu weather forcasts sunny and 70's!

[ May 03, 2001: Message edited by: NRSKarenRN ]

leesonlpn · May 3, 2001

Great idea Wildtime88, about buying a gift. I think I'll buy myself a new legbag!

Jay-Jay, RN · May 3, 2001

LOL, leesonlpn!!

Lots going on here. We're having a luncheon catered by Staff Association. During the luncheon, the various group practises will be presenting skits/poems/stories which highlight what nursing means to them. The theme this year is "Champions of Nursing."

I decided to take the "When God Made Nurses" story (i think it was Cheryl Worden who originally e-mailed it to me, early in the MNM), and do it as a skit, with costumes. Got a bit of work to do...the Nurse is supposed to have six pairs of hands!!

The nursing students are organizing a massive protest rally at Queen's Park, led by Shirley Douglas, daughter of Tommy Douglas, one of the founders of medicare in Canada (former NDP party leader). The focus of the protest, is, of course, Mike Harris's recent statement that he wouldn't mind Ontario's hospitals to become privatized, if only they could be run more efficiently that way.

I know some posters on this board will disagree, but medicine is NOT a business. If hospitals are privatized, the almighty buck will become the focus, an patient care will go down the tubes!

Happy, Nurse's Week, everyone!

You, too, Mike!

NurseHolly · May 3, 2001

At Alterra , the assisted living residence where I work, they are throwing a huge happy hour at the residence next Friday to celebrate Nurses' Week. I heard from the RD that they are also giving us fresh flowers and movie passes. Should be nice! They really take care of their nurses and caregivers at Alterra. I am very impressed!

MQ Edna · May 3, 2001

This is how nurses week is celebrated in my county operated long-term care facility of 360 beds: The DON goes around to all the supervisors and after twisting their arms, extorts 25 dollars apiece. Some contribute. On the day, during our half hour lunch break, the nurses go the conference room which will have a couple of fake palms and items reflecting the theme of the year. You get in line and supes who won't speak or make eye contact with you or your fellow nurses on a normal day, spoon food on to your plate and smile. Administration sits in the corner away from the nurses table and evesdrop on the diners. Its awful and a couple of us have declined this year. Too burned out from mandatory OT which the Supes are exempt from. There will be fewer mouths to feed at that luncheon this year!