Nurse's Week Celebration????

sarita279 · Apr 28, 2005

I feel ya....I guess it's just human nature to spend most of our time unappreciative of others, and then we try to make up for it with a special day or week.

All "Hallmark holidays" are like that...think: on Valentine's Day we tell our significant other we love them (it's a requirement now, even if you never say it the rest of the year).

Mother's and Father's Day: we tell our mom and dad how much they mean to us (even if we never do the rest of the year).

Do you think even one day or week of appreciation is better than nothing? Or is it that the hospitals are faking their appreciation?

stidget99 · Apr 30, 2005

I feel ya....I guess it's just human nature to spend most of our time unappreciative of others, and then we try to make up for it with a special day or week.
All "Hallmark holidays" are like that...think: on Valentine's Day we tell our significant other we love them (it's a requirement now, even if you never say it the rest of the year).
Mother's and Father's Day: we tell our mom and dad how much they mean to us (even if we never do the rest of the year).
Do you think even one day or week of appreciation is better than nothing? Or is it that the hospitals are faking their appreciation?

I don't think that they are faking so much but feel like they are being "forced" into recognizing us because it is a national thing. And, it is in their nature to benefit (financially/reputation) from whatever way they choose to "recognize/honor" us.

live4today, RN · Apr 30, 2005

I've always wanted to barf :barf01: every May when "Nurses Week" came around. :rolleyes:

daisybaby, LPN · Apr 30, 2005

I would rather have our CNO, DON, or even our nurse manager stop by ONCE and mention something specific my co-workers have done. A "thanks for your effort, it 's been really hectic lately" is nice, but to go the extra yard to specifically recognize how we worked well together during an OB code, or how one nurse has (on her own time) organized a commitee of nurse leaders to address intedepartmental issues, or point out how well we dealt with a particularly difficult family- would really let us know that management understands and really appreciates what's going on in the trenches.

I would rather get a 'job well done' compliment on a random Thursday afternoon in November than a "XYZ Hospital Loves its Nurses" banner conspicuously displayed (is it really for the benefit of the nurses, or more like PR for the hospital?) during Nurses' Week.

Just my $.02 :)

zacarias, ASN, RN · Apr 30, 2005

Yeah we just got our newsletter and they are telling us to each expect a special gift come Nurses' Week! LOL. Also there is supposed to be a barbecue and then "Pancakes in the Park" at which hospital execs will serve the food! I work nights, so I hope they have "Pancakes in the Dark" too!

ceceliajane2003 · Apr 30, 2005

:Melody: :coollook:

hey, I feel for you too, but I think its nice they have a week of recognition. think about it, every'ones job is important: is there a week of rec' for cashier's, bank officials,retail ;;so, really =you should be more appreciative- -

sorry........ :uhoh21:

Ok.........just venting a little bit here. With Nurse's Week coming up here fairly soon, we are hearing about management's big plans for celebrations. Call me a bad sport if you will but I just really think that the whole concept of "Nurse's Week" or "____(OT, PT, RT, Lab Tech, Xray Tech, CNA)____ week" is contradictory. We work our butts off all year and then we are given some kind of lame gift, meal, flower arrangement, or some crap like that from the docs and/or management. I would much rather be appreciated all year long instead. Tell me thanks for a job well done under particularly difficult circumstances. Show me that you appreciate me by staffing appropriately for the acuity and not just by the numbers. Show me that you care enough to come in and work with me, side-by-side when things are really hairy. Show me that you respect me when I call to report a pt's condition to you Dr. Doc by not yelling or screaming at me becuz I woke you up and 3am. Tell me that you understand when I have to call in sick because I have put in lots of extra overtime to help cover the shortages and am just totally burned out and need a "mental health" day. These are the things that mean more than some blanket or sweatshirt w/ hospital logo on it (cheap advertising for the hosp), meal, or coffee mug w/ candy in it.
[[[[[i really love this website! :) It allows me to vent my frustrations while at the same time having my peers tell me if I am totally off-base or maybe I have a right to be disgruntled on occasion!! If I post something, and more of you tell me that I am way off-base than I am right, I listen and, if need be, change my thinking. Thanks to everyone!!! ]]]]]

stidget99 · Apr 30, 2005

Yeah we just got our newsletter and they are telling us to each expect a special gift come Nurses' Week! LOL. Also there is supposed to be a barbecue and then "Pancakes in the Park" at which hospital execs will serve the food! I work nights, so I hope they have "Pancakes in the Dark" too!

I work noc's also. Last year our "special recognition" in addition to a coffee mug (which I have never used) was a brunch. Noc's got left overs. Not very special in my book!

stidget99 · Apr 30, 2005

:Melody:
hey, I feel for you too, but I think its nice they have a week of recognition. think about it, every'ones job is important: is there a week of rec' for cashier's, bank officials,retail ;;so, really =you should be more appreciative- -
sorry........ :uhoh21:

I am appreciative when my patients recognize the work that I do. Also, family generally remembers. I just don't get it how hospitals can say that they appreciate you one week while at the same time dumping on you - that same week not to mention the rest of the year. The reality (at least for me) is this: don't mock me by saying you appreciate me when I know better.

jdkaos · May 5, 2005

:yelclap: I am in agreeance with most of you. I would much rather have a thank you, or an occasional good job, thanks for the hard work and dedication. I really do not need another pen from them. I think that the idea of this week is so that the general public can recognize the nurse's, and to thank them for what we do. Most of the patients thank me at the time they are there, and t hat means more then anything to me. As long as my patients are well cared for and appreciate it, that is all the recognition I need.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · May 5, 2005

I like being appreciated. I don't really care who appreciates me; it could be a patient, a family member, a coworker, or my administration.

I especially like a thank-you note along with a raise. It kinda gives more weight to the overall appreciation.

allnurses Guide · May 6, 2005

The sincerety of the appreciation week shows by what they do the rest of the year. If its a perfunctory yeah we like you because its the national week, won't mean much. But if you do get the thanks etc. during the year, then the "special" week actually means something, it is just spotlighting it for a while.

From a broader perspective, getting nursing into public attention for a while is important. Too often nurses are background figures, and no one is really aware of what we do. How do we recruit if no one knows we're there or how important nursing is? Even if your hospital isn't very sincere in appreciating you ndividually, I'm glad we get some broader public awareness, even if only briefly. :balloons: