Nurses Week to Be Celebrated May 6-12
By Jane Nelson, CAE
ONA CEO
Nurses need to celebrate! May 6 – 12th is the week that is designated to recognize and celebrate the work Nurses do every day, 24/7. We hope you will begin the week off wearing your “RN pin” on May 6th in honor of RN Recognition Day and finish the week celebrating Florence Nightingale’s birthday on May 12th. Nurses need to celebrate! May 6 – 12th is the week that is designated to recognize and celebrate the work Nurses do every day, 24/7. We hope you will begin the week off wearing your “RN pin” on May 6th in honor of RN Recognition Day and finish the week celebrating Florence Nightingale’s birthday on May 12th. This year’s theme is 4 Million Reasons to Celebrate, giving a nod to the sheer numbers of nurses that enrich the world we live in. I realize that there is much to do in the way of safe staffing, patient safety, workplace violence. However, it is important to look back and see what has been accomplished and enjoy it. Let’s take a minute, step back and think about what you do have to celebrate, consider the following:· Let’s celebrate nurses’ commitment to addressing many public health challenges to transform health care to focus on health and wellness, in addition to illness care. · Let’s celebrate nurses’ commitment to delivering culturally competent care and increasing diversity and inclusion in nursing.
· Let’s celebrate nurses’ ground-breaking work as researchers, executives, educators and innovators on national and global initiatives. · Let’s celebrate nurses’ ground-breaking work as researchers, executives, educators and innovators on national and global initiatives. · Let’s celebrate nurses’ influence in shaping health policy decisions that ensure all Americans have access to high-quality, affordable health care coverage. · Let’s celebrate nurses’ role as a trusted advocate to ensure that individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations receive quality patient care and services. · Let’s celebrate nurses’ voice on important issues like immunization, health behaviors, natural disaster preparedness, education, and violence prevention.· Let’s celebrate nurses’ leadership in their organizations, on boards of directors and as elected officials at the local, state and federal levels. · Let’s celebrate nurses’ stories of strength, resilience and determination while navigating an ever-changing and complex health care landscape. · Let’s celebrate nurses’ ranking as the professionals with the highest honesty and ethical standards for the last 17 consecutive years. These results underscore the deep trust that the public has in nurses. So this week as you celebrate Nurses Week consider how you can make a difference in your life and in the life of your patients. Let ONA know how we can help you and other nurses advocate for change. ONA works to advocate for nurses, the profession and your patients, but we need to hear from you to know your needs first hand. Let’s Celebrate Nurses Week!About ONA’s Chief Executive Officer—Jane Nelson, CAE was named the CEO of the Oklahoma Nurses Association in March 2002. She has more than 30 years of association management and marketing experience with a variety of organizations. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and a master’s degree from Michigan State University. Nelson is a member of the American Society of Association Executives and the Oklahoma Society of Association Executives.
