This article provided by: Accountable Healthcare Staffing.
Accountable Healthcare Staffing loves Nurses Week. It is a wonderful time to show our nurses the love and appreciation they so deserve. The American Nurses Association declared May 6-12 as the National Week to celebrate and elevate the nursing profession. National Nurses Week is a time for everyone – individuals, employers, other healthcare professionals, community leaders, and nurses – to recognize the vast contributions and positive impact of America’s 4-plus million registered nurses. Each year, the celebration ends on May 12, Florence Nightingale’s birthday.
Not sure how to show your appreciation all week long?
Our friends at Positive Promotions rounded up some of our favorite ways to celebrate National Nurses Week:
Arts & Crafts
Add a special touch to your nurses week gifts and celebrations by getting patients, students, or nurses themselves involved. Show your nurses how much you appreciate them with a sentimental, handmade gift.
1. Ask patients/residents to sign thank you cards for nurses. Then, distribute the cards along with gifts of appreciation.
2. Cut out stars from yellow construction paper, write the names of nurses on them, and attach the stars to a bulletin board in a common area of your facility. Place a banner across the top that says, “Our Nurses Are Stars!”
Even on a day or week when we’re celebrating them, nurses love to give back to the community. Plan a fundraiser or community-oriented event as part of your nurses week activities.
3. Hold a canned food drive for a local food pantry and involve all employees at your facility. Take a picture of nurses delivering the food at the end of the week and put the photo in your newsletter.
4. Plant a tree in honor of your nurses. Place a plaque next to it that dedicates it to your nursing staff.
Events & Activities
Go above and beyond when you’re celebrating your nurses by planning special events and hosting themed activities.
5. Decorate a common area of your facility with Balloons and Posters. Surprise nurses with colorful decorations at the beginning of the week.
6. Enjoy a picnic outside during National Nurses Week. Have dietary services provide sandwiches and salads.
7. Use this National Nurses Week to kick off your “Nurse of the Month” Recognition Program. Choose a special nurse who serves as a role model to honor during this first month.
8. Give everyone a matching T-Shirt to wear. Then, smile and say, “Nurses Rock!” by participating in a group photo with nurses from every shift. Submit the photos to a local newspaper.
Food
Nurses are often so busy caring for their patients that they don’t have the time to grab lunch or even a snack. Make sure your nurses are filled with delicious treats all week long.
9. Appeal to everyone’s sweet tooth with an ice cream social. Put out a variety of ice cream and toppings for nurses to enjoy.
10. Let nurses know that they warm everyone’s hearts. As a special treat one day, serve them heart-shaped cookies and hot chocolate.
11. Push a drink cart around your facility and stop by each nurses’ station. Serve up tea and coffee in Travel Mugs.
Games & Contests
Bring more fun and excitement to National Nurses Week with games and contests like Nurse Olympics or Nurse Bingo.
12. Hide “germs” around the facility for nurses to find. Attach a ticket to each one. Nurses can turn them in for prizes.
13. Highlight famous nurses of the past, such as Florence Nightingale and Clara Barton. Quiz your nurses about them and pass out small prizes to those who answer questions correctly.
Health
Nurses spend most of their day making sure that their patients are healthy. Take some time during National Nurses Week to make sure that all your nurses are in tip-top shape.
14. Hold a health fair, especially for your nurses. Offer free blood pressure screenings.
Relaxation
Help your nurses relax after an overnight shift or long day of tending to patients.
15. Brighten each nurse’s station with potted flowers, such as daffodils and tulips. Encourage nurses to take them home at the end of the week.
Be sure to follow Accountable Healthcare Staffing on social media. We will be giving away prizes all week. If you win, you can share them with your team or keep them all for yourself! www.facebook.com/AccountableHealthcareStaffing/
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