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National Nurses Week

How communities can recognize nurses

Posted 5/6/22

The vital role nurses play in health care settings across the globe was perhaps never more apparent than in recent months. When COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in …

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National Nurses Week

How communities can recognize nurses

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The vital role nurses play in health care settings across the globe was perhaps never more apparent than in recent months. When COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020, nurses were on the front lines in the battle against the virus, and have remained there ever since.

In recognition of the sacrifices nurses and other health care workers have made to help the sick, individuals across the globe have placed signs in their yards thanking essential workers.

In addition, many more have taken to newspapers, radio and social media to highlight the lengths individual nurses have gone to while helping them or their loved ones who caught the virus or fought other illnesses. Communities can follow such individuals’ lead by making collective efforts to thank the nurses who call their towns and cities home.

Many local service organizations, including Kiwanis, Rotary and the Elks, have made public statements, provided lunches and thanked the nurses for all they have done.

• Health care facilities have been stretched incredibly thin during the pandemic, so a donation to a charitable organization that benefits health care workers can be a great way for communities to honor local nurses.

• Encourage residents to lend a helping hand. The work frontline medical workers have done during the pandemic has been endless and exhausting.

In recognition of that, community organizers can promote volunteer programs designed to lift some of the burden off local health care workers’ shoulders. Local hospitals, blood banks and health centers may need volunteers, and this is a great way for local residents to show health care workers their efforts are appreciated.

• Celebrate holidays that honor nurses as a community. The American Nurses Association notes that National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6 and ends on May 12.

Though National Nurses Week is not a federal holiday, communities can still come together during the week to highlight the work their local nurses do – as evidence by the tremendous outpouring of support in this special section!

Townships or other local officials can encourage businesses in the community to offer special discounts to nurses during the week, while schools can take part in collective efforts to thank nurses.

• Highlight a local nurse each week in the newspaper. Community leaders can ask residents to nominate a local nurse each week and then choose one nominee to highlight in the Demoocrat.

Students or local officials can interview the nominee, asking them about their careers, including what compelled them to become a nurse and their most interesting experiences on the job. Interviews can be posted on community social media pages so all residents can get to know the unsung heroes in their communities.

Communities can work together on a variety of collective efforts aimed at recognizing the extraordinary efforts made by local nurses every day.

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