Today is National Nurses Day, and National Park Medical Center, as part of the newly designated National Nurses Month, is joining the American Nurses Association in the national, expanded recognition of the health care professionals' contributions during the coronavirus pandemic.
National Nurses Week, which is observed annually May 6-12, honors the men and women around the country who have "dedicated their lives to caring for those who are at their most vulnerable and in need. This year, as the invaluable contributions of nurses have gained increased awareness amid the fight against COVID-19, that celebration is being extended into a National Nurses Month," the hospital said Tuesday in a news release.
NPMC will provide special treats and celebratory meals throughout the month, and community members are welcome to leave their own special note of thanks at http://www.thankahealthcarehero.com.
"Our heroic nurses are always on the front lines of caring for the sick and injured," Joann Ettien, interim CEO of NPMC, said in the release.
"Their compassion, clinical expertise and servant leadership are fundamental to our ability to provide the high-quality care our patients have come to rely on. I am so proud to celebrate and honor their hard work -- and not just during Nurses Month, but year-round. Their impact is an essential part of our mission of Making Communities Healthier."
National Nurses Week originated in 1953, when U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare employee Dorothy Sutherland suggested a national day of recognition for nurses. After a series of proclamations and resolutions through the decades, the American Nurses Association affirmed a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress by establishing May 6 as National Nurses Day in 1982. The ANA expanded the celebration to a week in 1991 and, in 1993, designated May 6-12 as the permanent annual dates to mark National Nurses Week, according to the release.
In addition to this year's expanded, month-long observance, the World Health Organization has also declared 2020 as the Year of the Nurse.
"It is another well-deserved recognition for a group of professionals that could not have come at a more appropriate time," the release said.
"By their very nature, nurses are special people who are committed to selflessly serving and caring for others no matter the circumstance," Ettien said. "During our fight against COVID-19, our nurses have truly stepped up and are making countless sacrifices daily to ensure the safety of patients and each other, and to help protect our community. They are heroes in every sense of the word."
Local on 05/06/2020