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Nurses at the San Francisco VA Medical Center got pedometers for their health and cookies for a treat. Elsewhere, there were karaoke songfests, catered meals, gift baskets, singing telegrams, free massages, and lots of awards ceremonies.
The smorgasbord of food, fun, and fame is all part of an annual celebration for nurses May 6-13 that coincides with the birth date of Florence Nightingale, considered the founder of modern nursing.
This year’s theme for National Nurses Week is “Nurses: Many Roles, One Profession,” and activities throughout the West focused on showing nurses that their work is appreciated.
“We put together a fun week with professional activities,” says Sharon Andrews, RN, MSN, assistant chief nursing officer at Palomar Pomerado Health system in Escondido, Calif. Nurses in the two-hospital system received tokens for drawings for dozens of gift baskets of such goodies as specialty coffees, a spa day, a day-at-the-beach, or a night at the movies.
All nurses at the system received free ice cream and a banquet ceremony on May 12, Nightingale’s birthday. The system also honored nurses on various hospital units with Nurse of the Year awards.
Karaoke anyone?
At Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in San Bernardino County, Calif., a large conference hall was turned into a multi-cultural dining area where nurses on all shifts were treated to such dishes as Waikiki chicken, African greens, and Mexican layered dip. There was also ice cream and karaoke.
“Word came down that we had some good singers on the staff,” quips Jorge Valentino, director of marketing and business development at Arrowhead, adding that banners were also hung thanking the nurses for their work. “It’s important to make them feel special, to show that we appreciate everything they do.”
At sprawling University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, massage chairs were strategically placed so busy nurses could take five-minute relaxation breaks. “The massage chairs are a big hit; the nurses really like them,” says Mary McCollow, RN, a nurse educator who coordinated activities. She says there was also a weeklong series of awards ceremonies, including honors given to staff nurses in various departments.
At the University of California Medical Center in Hillcrest and Thornton Hospital, La Jolla (Calif.), nurses enjoyed complimentary breakfasts served by unit leaders and celebrated a Cultural Awareness Day where they were encouraged to wear international or native dress to work. There was also a nursing excellence awards ceremony May 12 at Hillcrest campus and an ice cream social at both hospital sites to culminate the week.
How about a singing telegram?
In addition to recognitions and luncheons, executives delivered personalized singing telegrams to nurses throughout University Medical Center in Tucson, Ariz. The serenades cost $3 each for senders who wanted to draw attention — which the singing did — to nurses excelling in such themes as positive attitude, leadership, and work ethic. Money raised goes to a UMC Nurses Education fund.
Phoenix St. Luke’s Medical Center put on a week-long Havin’ Fun in the Sun celebration that included a luau, an ice cream social, and a nursing honors banquet. Nursing departments competed in a door-decorating contest for a sought-after prize — a free pizza party.
A premier event at the University of Washington School of Nursing May 12 was an annual Nurses Recognition Banquet with various awards, including recognizing nursing leadership in research, humanitarianism, and volunteerism. Health care organizations throughout the area sponsor tables and honor their top nurses at the ceremony, held at the W Hotel in downtown Seattle.
Nurses at St. Luke’s Hospital in San Francisco got a theatrical treat with four 60-minute performances of a dramatization, “Florence Nightingale: In Her Own Words.” The drama focused on challenges faced by Nightingale that still exist today. It showed the evolution of Nightingale’s theories, explained how she distinguished the roles of nurse and physician, and revealed specific environmental factors that impact patient safety.
The Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in San Jose, scheduled a daylong session of activities and nursing practice application sessions May 12 where nurses received educational credits for attending. Nurses on all shifts were served breakfast, lunch, and dinner within their schedules, says Gail Smith, RN, MSN, events coordinator. Every nurse received a token gift, and an excellence in nursing ceremony after lunch honored three nurses — an LPN, an RN, and an advanced practice nurse, says Smith.
A daily ritual of goodness
And, in the heart of the White Mountains in Northern Arizona, the 66-bed Navapache Regional Medical Center in Show Low that serves Navaho and Apache counties took a unique philosophical approach to celebrate nursing.
Rituals included starting the week with a day of compliments — looking for the good in others and mentioning it — with blankets being handed out and culminating with a day of forgiveness — letting go of anger and making more room for the healing power of laughter — along with brownies and cookies. Other days celebrated the themes of flexibility, gratitude, and kindness.
John Leighty is a freelance writer for NurseWeek .
To comment on this story, send e-mail to editorca@nurseweek.com.
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