As Nurses Week is upon us (May 6-12), many organizations and companies are coming up with ways to honor nurses in any way they can. Whether it is free cookies in the break room, banners hanging from the ceilings or a placard with quotes from physicians on why they appreciate nurses, most facilities are honoring its nurses. But it doesn't stop there. Even some companies are honoring nurses.
For instance, take Cinnabon.
Collaborating with The DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune Systems) Foundation, these two companies found a way to show their appreciation for nurses and the extraordinary service nurses provide on a daily basis. During Nurses Week, when a nurse shows their healthcare badge at any local Cinnabon bakery, they will receive a free Cinnabon Classic Roll.
"Nurses always put others before themselves, so we're happy to thank them for their constant "WOW" service," said Gary Bales, Cinnabon president, in an official statement.
Even though Nurses Week has been going on for quite some time, dating back to 1974, some issues have been brought to the forefront.
Is Nurses Week still necessary? Other healthcare professions do not get a week, or even a day, while physicians have one day dedicated to them (March 30.) However, one thing remains clear, nurses should still be celebrated, whether it be during this week, or constantly throughout the year.
For example, Monica Weisbrich, RN, believes Nurses Week is still necessary as it "is celebrated at the time of Florence Nightingale's birthday to remind nurses about the influence one nurse can have on returning patients to health."
"Today's nurses continue that dedicated work and deserve to be recognized. It is also a time where nurses can re-commit to their own professional values," says Weisbrich.
Lisette Cintron, RN, MSN, CHCQM, CNL, Clinical Nurse Educator/NICHE Program Co-Coordinator of Juniper, FL believes that nurses should be celebrated and recognized on a daily basis.
"In our profession, we fail to recognize the work that we/nurses do. We need to take the time and stop and tell each other 'great job,' 'thank you,' etc. We need to show our appreciation for each other and our profession," says Cintron.
"On a daily basis, we are giving of ourselves in order to help another i.e. the ill, the recovering, the dying, in order to provide exemplary care and compassion that we believe all our patients deserve," says Cintron. "It is why we went into nursing, right? So, why should we not recognize that? Nursing has come a long way since Florence Nightingale, and although we still have a long way to go we have made great accomplishments."
Even though Weisbrich agrees Nurses Week is often commercialized, she suggests "putting money into causes meaningful to nurses and the nursing profession is the way to go."
One suggestion Weisbrich makes is donating to the Nurses Float (http://www.flowers4thefloat.org/) which is a non-profit organization that is trying to raise enough money to have a float dedicated to nurses in the 2013 Rose Parade. "We are asking all facilities make a donation to this historic project over the next three years during Nurses Week to honor and celebrate each nurse. This is the ultimate level of recognition-to be part of history," says Weisbrich.
"Whether it be a school, occupational, nursing home or hospital nurse, we all need to be recognized and learn to recognize each other and not during one week, but every day. So let us celebrate," says Cintron.
Sarah Kearns is an editor for HCPro in the Quality and Patient Safety Group. Contact Sarah at skearns@hcpro.com.