Date recognizes role of nurses in healthcare and honors their contributions to patient; coincides with birthday of modern nursing founder, Florence Nightingale
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
National Nurses Week runs May 6 to May 12, culminating with the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who founded modern nursing.
“National Nurses Week is celebrated each year to recognize the critical role nurses play in healthcare and to honor their contributions to patients, families and communities,” said Gregory Hoffman-Fragale, doctor of nurse practitioner and Finger Lakes Health’s chief nursing officer. “Nurses are the glue that holds healthcare together.”
He believes that National Nurses Week is an important annual tradition because it honors the impact that nurses have on the healthcare system as they provide “patient care, clinical expertise, emotional support, advocacy and coordination of care,” he said.
Hoffman-Fragale added that National Nurses Week recognizes this level of dedication and sacrifice, as the career’s demands include long hours, emotional resilience and high levels of stress. The celebration also honors professional excellence in individual nurses for their “leadership, innovation, quality improvement and advancement in patient care,” he said. “Organizations use the week to boost engagement, recognize staff and reinforce a positive culture which is especially important in today’s challenging workforce environment.
“In short, National Nurses Week isn’t just a celebration, it’s a meaningful acknowledgment of a profession that is essential to the safety, quality and humanity of healthcare.”
His organization celebrates National Nurses Week by hosting various activities daily that are associated with a particular theme; giving nurses with health system swag and leadership rounding; ice cream socials; and guest speakers and visitors.
Melissa Derleth, registered nurse, nurse executive advanced–board certified and chief nursing officer at Highland Hospital, views National Nurses Week as a way to “ensure nurses feel genuinely appreciated for their commitment to patients, their loved ones and our community. It’s really part of the culture of recognition and we celebrate that all year, especially during our designated week.”
One way Highland recognizes staff is the Daisy Award, a national recognition for nurses, which recognizes exemplary compassion and practice among patients and their families. Derleth also said that Highland focuses on wellbeing of staff as they work very challenging jobs.
“We have activities planned related to decreasing burnout, coping mechanisms for stress, wellness activities and resources,” Derleth said.
One example is a guest speaker who leads nurses through breathing exercises that can help decrease stress and lower burnout risk. Highland also hosts a wellness fair with vendors such as yoga practitioners, massage therapists and experts in other physical exercises and modalities to promote wellness.
“We tie everything back to our mission to provide compassion and quality to the communities and a lot about professional growth opportunities,” Derleth said.
Like most hospitals, Highland offers career advancement opportunities and scholarships. Derleth said that two employees who formerly worked in the coffee shop have transitioned into nursing practice and respiratory therapy careers, thanks in part to mentors and scholarships.
“We want people to get into nursing to provide caring warm and compassionate experience for patients,” Derleth. “Emotionally, it can be a very fulfilling experience. I still maintain relationships with past co-workers.
“We are proud of our employees. This will be a time to celebrate the impact that they have on the community and all the hard work that they accomplish throughout the year.”