By AMN Healthcare

May 7, 2024

1477 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

Celebrating Nurses: Discounts and Appreciation Year-Round and During Nurses Month

AMN Healthcare provided this article.

Nurses are the backbone of healthcare, and it’s only fitting to honor them not just during Nurses Month but all year round. As Nurses Month unfolds, it’s a time to extend our gratitude and appreciation for their unwavering commitment and compassion, especially during the toughest of times.

During National Nurses Month, which encompasses the traditional Nurses Week from May 6-12, various businesses step up to express their thanks through discounts and freebies. While some extend these gestures exclusively during May, others maintain year-round offerings for nurses and frontline workers.

To avail these offers, nurses typically need to verify their credentials through platforms like ID.me or SheerID.

Here’s a roundup of some popular Nurses Month discounts across different categories:

nurses month

Clothing & Apparel Discounts

  • Lululemon: Offering nurses and clinicians a year-round 15% discount.
  • Crocs: Providing 15% off on full-priced styles to healthcare workers; last year, they also gave away thousands of pairs.
  • Reebok: Nurses can enjoy up to 50% off on merchandise by verifying their licenses with ID.me.
  • Adidas: Offering a year-round discount of 30% online and in-store, and 20% at factory outlets for healthcare heroes and first responders.
  • Asics: Nurses and medical professionals can access a one-time 40% discount upon verification with SheerID.
  • Nike: Extending a 10% year-round discount to nurses and healthcare heroes.
  • Carhartt: Providing a 15% discount on apparel and accessories to verified members of the military, first responder, and nursing community.

Food & Beverage Discounts

  • Outback Steakhouse: Offering a 10% discount every day to nurses and heroes as part of their “Heroes Discount.”
  • Texas de Brazil: Extending a 15% discount on dine-in dinner and lunch prices to healthcare heroes.
  • Chipotle: Ran the Healthcare Heroes sweepstakes last year and expected to repeat this year; details to be announced soon.
nurses month

Books & Electronics Discounts

  • Samsung: Nurses can enjoy a 30% discount upon verifying their healthcare credentials.
  • Amazon Kindle: Last year, Amazon offered four nursing-themed medical drama books for free on International Nurses Day.
  • Bose: Offering a special discount for nurses who verify with ID.me and make a minimum purchase of $199.

Other Discounts

  • Bayer: Offering samples of popular products to healthcare professionals.
  • AAA: Extending special discounts and perks to nurses throughout the year, varying by state.
  • Liberty Mutual Insurance: This company offers discounts on auto and home insurance for registered nurses who are members of the American Nurses Association.
  • Theme Parks & Attractions: Various theme parks offer discounts to nurses, ranging from 15% to 50% off regular admission prices, accessible through the ID.me program.
  • Local Discounts: Nurses can inquire at their workplaces about special discount programs available throughout the year.

At AMN Healthcare, we’re privileged to work with nurses daily, matching them with travel nursing jobs and providing support on assignments. We understand the dedication and care nurses bring to their work, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude. Happy Nurses Month!

We hope you found this article on discounts and appreciation year-round and during Nurses Month informational. Have you found any discounts or appreciations that we missed on our list? Comment them below for your fellow travel nurses.

Find Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment with Our Job Board!

Are you on the hunt for your next travel nurse gig? Look no further than our job board! Click here to explore all our current opportunities.

Discover the Perfect Housing for Your Next Assignment

Need somewhere to stay on your next travel nurse assignment? We’ve got you covered. Check out our housing page to find your ideal home away from home. Click here to start your search.

By trustaff

May 4, 2024

2346 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

Nurses Week 2024: A Thank You to Our Healthcare Heroes 

Trustaff provided this article.

As we celebrate Nurses Week 2024 from May 6-12, it’s time to express our profound gratitude and appreciation for nurses, the unsung heroes of the healthcare system. Nurses are the backbone of medical care, often the first point of contact for patients, embodying a spirit of care, compassion, and commitment.  

This week, we shine a spotlight on their invaluable contributions and reflect on why their role is more crucial than ever in modern healthcare. 

Nurses Week 2024: A Thank You to Our Healthcare Heroes:

nurses week 2024

The Importance of Nurses 

Nurses are at the heart of patient care and serve as its foundation. Whether in the bustling corridors of hospitals or the quieter rooms of residential care, nurses are the primary caregivers. As educators and advocates, nurses manage a wide range of responsibilities, from administering medications to supporting patients through recovery. 

Nurses are also pivotal in promoting preventive healthcare, demonstrating their dedication to patient wellness that extends beyond immediate medical responses. They educate patients on managing chronic conditions and the importance of regular checkups to prevent hospitalizations and enhance life quality. 

The Critical Need for Nurses Today 

nurses week 2024

The healthcare industry is experiencing a significant transformation. An aging population and the lingering effects of global health crises have skyrocketed the demand for qualified nurses. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are projections of approximately 193,100 annual job openings for nurses U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Despite this high demand, the industry faces a concerning shortage of nursing professionals. 

This shortage represents a potential crisis in patient care and healthcare delivery. Nurses are indispensable for the sustainability of health services. They are at the forefront of patient care and innovation in medical practices and provide the personal touch that supports both patients and their families through some of life’s toughest challenges. 

Supporting Our Nursing Professionals 

As we enter Nurses Week 2024, we extend our deepest thanks to nurses everywhere. Your dedication, compassion, and resilience profoundly impact the health of our communities. Recognizing the challenges you face, Trustaff is committed to supporting you through our ACT program, designed to elevate nurses’ careers and well-being. This program ensures that nurses receive the opportunities and support they deserve, enhancing both their professional lives and the quality of care they provide. 

Thank You!

During this week of celebration, let’s reaffirm our appreciation for nurses and the critical roles they play. Their service is not just appreciated during this special week but celebrated and valued every day. Thank you, nurses, for everything you do. In celebrating Nurses Week 2024, we not only acknowledge the tireless efforts of nurses but also recognize the urgent need for sustained support and investment in this invaluable workforce.

As we reflect on their unwavering commitment to patient care, let us also commit to addressing the challenges they face, from staffing shortages to burnout. Together, by championing the welfare of nurses and ensuring they have the resources they need, we can uphold the standard of excellence in healthcare and honor the profound impact nurses have on our lives, both now and in the future.

Find Your Next Travel Healthcare Assignment with Our Job Board!

Are you on the hunt for your next travel healthcare gig? Look no further than our job board! Click here to explore all our current opportunities. We have opportunities for all travel healthcare professionals.

Discover the Perfect Housing for Your Next Assignment

Need somewhere to stay on your next travel healthcare assignment? We’ve got you covered. Check out our housing page to find your ideal home away from home. Click here to start your search.

By Medical Edge Recruitment

May 9, 2023

3442 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

Nurses Week 2023 – Honoring Travel Nurses Then and Now

Medical Edge Recruitment provided this article.

Written by: Alisha Layne, Recruitment Consultant at Medical Edge Recruitment

The history of nursing goes back over 170 years when Florence Nightingale and 34 female volunteer nurses traveled from the United Kingdom to provide much-needed medical attention to war victims. At that time, The Ottoman Empire, with support from France and England, were bitterly embattled with the Russian Empire over a border dispute. Though they were not paid or contracted, and the journey was much longer than it is today, these brave nurses who set out to save lives ended up making history.

Their journey to the middle of the war zone took a whopping 13 days with the use of various modes of transportation, including steamboats, fishing boats, and on foot. The journey was long and hard, but the worst was yet to come. Nothing could have prepared them for the horrors they would be greeted with upon arrival at Constantinople, Turkey. The sick and dying were enduring the most deplorable conditions. Infections were rampant, access to basic hygiene items was limited or nonexistent, and people were dying more of diseases than because of the war.

travel nurses

The conditions were too much to bear, but the eager nurses were ready to jump into action immediately. Imagine their shock and horror when they were told that their help was not needed. At that time, there were no female nurses in the war zone. The poor reputation of past female nurses had led the war office to avoid hiring more. However, the war went on longer than anticipated, and soon the doctors on the ground realized that they needed volunteer nurses.

During their tenure in Turkey, these brave women were instrumental in changing the face of the medical practice during the war. Nightingale and her team instituted mandatory sanitary practices such as basic hand washing before and after tending to patients. They saved thousands of lives and will forever be remembered in history for their contributions to the healthcare sector.

Florence Nightingale and her team of 34 volunteer nurses became the first travel nurses in history, paving the way for a massive $27.6 billion industry that is still growing in 2023. While Nightingale and her band of traveling angels were volunteers in a war-torn region and worked through deplorable conditions, travel nurses today enjoy great pay with endless adventures and opportunities.

Here’s why you should consider packing your stethoscope and scrubs and hitting the road to do what you love most:

MONEY. MONEY. MONEY.

Travel nurses make generous hourly pay and enjoy sizable shift differentials. Many companies offer sign-on bonuses, completion bonuses, housing and meal stipends, and referral bonuses. These referral bonuses can be capitalized on and easily bring in extra earnings anywhere from $100 – $1500 or more per month.

REDUCED COST OF LIVING

How would you like to enjoy free water, electricity, Wi-Fi, and parking? Well, that’s exactly what being a travel nurse offers. The cost of basic living expenses is either drastically reduced or eliminated altogether. It is not uncommon for many travel nurses to take assignments in cities or states where the cost of living is known to be low. They get to keep more of the money they make to either take care of their family or do more of the things they love.

JET SETTING

travel nurses

Who doesn’t want to travel to a new city of their choice every three months? This is a dream come through for many travel nurses, and choosing travel nursing as a career offers the freedom and flexibility to do so. Travel nurses can discover new places and cultures, enjoy different foods, and experience a new way of life. If you are from the city, then travel nursing can offer the freedom to enjoy the countryside and vice versa. Because your schedule is entirely up to you, it is easy to plan a much-needed vacation or just take time to reset before deciding on your next assignment.

CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT

One of the best ways for nurses to broaden their resumes and develop themselves professionally is by practicing their craft in different environments and under different circumstances. It shows resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to accept life’s challenges while still being able to do the job at hand. Working at different facilities teaches nurses the necessary skills to do just this.

Whatever path you choose in nursing, thank you for serving others and for your commitment to improving healthcare across the nation. Medical Edge Recruitment recognizes the unlimited compassion, dedication, and kindness that goes into caring for each one of your patients. What you do requires a special heart, and we thank you for constantly going above and beyond!

travel nurses

Need Help Finding Your Path?

Medical Edge Recruitment is a premier travel nursing recruitment agency specializing in providing top talent to clients in the healthcare industry. We connect clinical and allied providers to their ideal opportunities, focusing on building long-lasting relationships through honesty and transparency. In travel nursing, bigger does not always mean better. While we have an extensive network of job opportunities, our experienced team is dedicated to making a personalized provider experience a priority. There are a lot of moving parts in getting set up for a new assignment, but we take care of all the details along the way. Adventure awaits. Let Medical Edge Recruitment show you where to go next!

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Go Healthcare Staffing

May 8, 2023

4906 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

Saluting the Evolution of Nursing and Centuries of Heroism

Go Healthcare Staffing provided this article.

Nursing is the nation’s largest healthcare profession, with more than four million registered nurses (RNs) nationwide and a projected increase of 200,000 per year through 2031. Thousands of RNs enjoy the freedom and flexibility as a travel nurse, a more recent phenomenon of the industry.  Nursing Pools, or professional staffing agencies, place nurses in temporary healthcare assignments where permanent staff cannot adequately serve patient admissions. This more contemporary just-in-time, on-demand approach to staffing has allowed hospitals to minimize labor gaps and improve the quality of care. The nursing profession has evolved over centuries to include formal training, regulations, certifications, and licensing. Nurses have also contributed groundbreaking inventions alongside new technology, both of which have played a pivotal role in advancing treatments, outcomes, and the caliber of care. This week we celebrate nurses across the country and appreciate the remarkable history instrumental in developing these healthcare heroes.   

nursing
nursing

The first National Nurses Week

The first National Nurses Week was observed in 1954, marking the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s mission to Crimea.  During the war, many lives were lost due to infections, and these intimate encounters with injured soldiers spurred her views about cleanliness and patient care. She went on to author Notes on Nursing (published 1859), which provides a practical guide for hygiene, sanitation, fresh air, proper lighting, a good diet, warmth, and quietness in a hospital environment to promote patient recovery. In 1860, Nightingale leveraged her knowledge and opened the very first nursing school in London, paving the way for formal training and education in the field.

nursing

Nightingale is recognized as the founder of modern nursing because her tireless efforts to reform healthcare greatly influenced the quality of care throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. The “Nightingale Principles” she promoted more than a century ago are still widely respected as a viable introduction to the field. In 1982, the United States Congress passed a joint resolution designating May 6 as National Recognition Day for Nurses, and President Regan went on to sign the proclamation. Today, National Nurses Day launches National Nurses Week, which concludes on May 12, honoring the birthdate of Florence Nightingale.

Clarissa Harlow Barton provided medical care to Civil War Soldiers in the 1800s

Also during the 1800s, nurse Clarissa Harlowe Barton provided medical care and supplies to Civil War soldiers serving on battlefields outside her home in Washington, DC. Her unwavering dedication earned her the nickname “Angel of the Battlefield.” Post-war, Barton continued her humanitarian service by opening the Office of Missing Soldiers and reconnected more than 22,000 soldiers with their families. Later during her 1869 trip to Switzerland, Barton learned about the European Red Cross movement. This humanitarian effort provided neutral aid to those injured in combat. And in 1881, perhaps her most famous accolade, Barton founded the American Red Cross and then served as president for 23 years. Barton died in 1912, but her legacy lives on through a massive network of volunteers and staff at the Red Cross who respond every eight minutes to support those in crisis.

Linda Richards is recognized as the first professionally trained nurse in the United States.

In 1872, Richards was the first to enroll in the inaugural class of five students for a one-year program at the first United States nurse training school established by the New England Hospital for Women and Children. Her celebrated diploma is in the archives of the Smithsonian Institution.  After graduation, Richards worked as a night superintendent at the Bellevue Hospital Training School in New York, where she created the first system for charting and maintaining medical records for each patient. This system was adopted extensively throughout the United States and England. In 1976, Richards was inducted into the American Nurses Association Hall of Fame and the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1994.

Virginia Henderson was a major force throughout the 1900s.

She is credited for shaping nursing education through the application of her “Need Theory,” which stated the goal and focus of nursing is to enable the patient to achieve independence as quickly as possible. Henderson emphasizes basic human needs and, more specifically, how nurses can meet those needs. Noting that the nurse’s foremost duty was to the patient, not the doctor. As a nurse, theorist, and acclaimed author, Henderson transformed the field of nursing. She received more than a dozen honorary doctorate degrees from respected institutions, led an extensive teaching and practice career, and is recognized as one of the 51 Pioneer Nurses in Virginia as well as a member of the American Nurses Association Hall of Fame.

Mary Ezra Mahoney was the first African American woman to become a registered nurse.

Mary Ezra Mahoney was the first African American woman to become a registered nurse and work as a professionally trained nurse in the United States. She was one of only four graduates (out of 42 candidates) from her class at the New England Hospital for Women and Children in 1879. Faced with relentless discrimination, Mahoney co-founded the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses in 1908, pioneering the way for future African American nurses. At the age of 74, Mahoney was one of the first women to register to vote in Boston, propelling her nursing legacy to national fame.

Adda May Allen worked as a nurse at Columbia Hospital in Washington, D.C., in the 1940s. She noticed that babies tired easily when nursing from a bottle. She created a one-time-use disposable liner that helped reduce the effort needed by babies to drink. Whereas a traditional bottle created a partial vacuum and inverted the nipple, the plastic liner allowed the sides to close in as a baby drinks the milk. This invention helped ensure babies were not at risk of malnutrition due to exhaustion while feeding.

In 1968, registered nurse Anita Dorr invented the “crisis cart,” known famously today as the “crash cart.” 

Determined to resolve the dire situation she had witnessed far too many times, Dorr set out to reduce the time it took doctors and nurses to respond to cardiac arrest. She created a prototype cart in her basement that was stocked with the necessary equipment and provided easy access by medical staff. Today, the modern crash cart delivers the lifesaving defibrillator and resuscitation equipment quickly and conveniently to the patient’s bedside.

Luther Christman was the first male dean of a nursing school.

Luther Christman, a nurse, and educator, was a champion of racial and gender diversity in nursing. He was the first male dean of a nursing school and eventually founded the American Association for Men in Nursing (1974) to help men enter a field largely associated with women.

nursing

Christman helped create and implement the Rush Model of Nursing, which emphasizes the commingling of education and practice for nursing schools and transforms the way nurses navigate their future from coursework to career.

Throughout her career, nurse Rebecca Koszalinski has been particularly focused on improving outcomes for patients with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses who are speech vulnerable. Leveraging new technologies, she set out to transform treatment for those who do not have a voice. Koszalinski developed Speak for Myself®, an award-winning mobile app designed to help patients who are unable to communicate express their needs quickly and precisely. Feelings such as pain, fear, anxiety, the need for a restroom, and even loneliness are easily formulated using the app. Rebecca S. Koszalinski, Ph.D., BSN, MS, RN, CRRN, is an Associate Professor at the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, FAU, Florida, where she continues her crusade to empower those with social challenges.

The industry has come so far since the first mentions of nursing during the Roman Empire around 300 AD. The practice evolved through the years as it aligned with church hospitals, battlefield injuries in times of war, and answered the call for midwives to help with childbirth. We see how the profession has progressed over centuries, with numerous individuals shaping modern nursing and reinforcing the sheer resiliency of practitioners. The twenty-first century has been especially important to the field of nursing as we come out of the coronavirus pandemic. During the height of its impact, travel nurses were essential to helping hospitals meet the unprecedented needs of infected patients. Travelers are accustomed to quickly filling staffing gaps and performing on day one in a new assignment. Together with the permanent staff, travelers provided the medical care and compassion needed during this incredibly difficult time.

The future outlook for nursing suggests a burgeoning need as our elder population continues to grow.

Ironically, nurses are also part of this aging segment, with a significant number expected to retire by 2030. The country needs a pipeline of students to fuel the expected 9% job growth for registered nurses (RNs) and 45% job growth for nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and nurse anesthetists between 2020 and 2030. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) A nursing career promises that medical innovation, government-mandated regulations, and technological advancements will combine to continuously change the look and feel of patient care. There is no doubt nurses have demonstrated over time their ability to adapt to change and crisis while keeping patient needs top priority.

Nurses and the nursing field will certainly endure and withstand the unpredictability of evolving healthcare needs. A new focus on mental health needs and resources for nurses, particularly those facing burnout, depression, and anxiety, is a welcomed addition to how the industry cares for its nurses. With this heightened awareness and investment in their well-being, we can hope that the longevity of careers will increase and patients will only see even better care and treatment.

“Heroism” is practically synonymous with nursing.

Centuries have shown where nurses sacrifice, conquer adversity, and fight for saving patients despite the risk to their own lives. There is no truer definition of a hero. As the country celebrates Nurses Week, we recognize the profound dedication and contribution nurses provide to our communities, hospitals, schools, and education systems. We salute the historical journey to modern nursing and pay tribute to the bright future ahead for these champions of healthcare.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

By Gifted Healthcare

May 7, 2023

2783 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

2023 Nurses Month: You Make a Difference

Gifted Healthcare provided this article.

It’s National Nurses Month, and it’s a time to honor and appreciate the work of nurses across the country!

Nurses play an essential role in healthcare, providing care and support to patients during some of their most vulnerable moments. This month, we celebrate their dedication, compassion, and commitment to the health and well-being of others.

They are often the first point of contact for patients and their families, providing emotional support and information about treatment options. Through tough times, they have been on the front lines, putting their own health at risk to care for their patients. They have worked long hours, and despite the challenges they face on the job, nurses consistently put their patients first.

nurses month

What inspired you to become a nurse?

During National Nurses Month, we wanted to celebrate our Gifted Nurses and every element of their journey as a nurse. We asked them, “What inspired you to become a nurse?” and the answers, well, they were inspiring!

Read about some of our Gifted Nurses’ inspiration below.  

“I became a nurse at the age of 54 after raising my family. The desire to become a nurse began in 1996 when my daughter was diagnosed with a rare heart disease and had a heart transplant. Throughout our journey, my daughter and I felt the calling to become nurses. We both achieved our goal and love caring for others.”Janet G., RN.

“I was always interested in Healthcare, and I knew I wanted to help people. After seeing family members in the hospital at a young age, I saw how it works and decided it was for me.” – Kyle S., RN.

“At a young age, I knew I wanted to become a nurse. I chose nursing because it is rewarding to make a difference in someone’s life. We all go through our struggles, and to be able to be there and provide care, give comfort, and increase healing means all of the world to me.” – Kendra M., RN.

“I became a nurse because it is my passion to help others. I was born sick, and I saw what they did to help me. I either was going to love or hate the medical field, and I loved it. I am grateful to be in such a rewarding profession.” – Derek B., RN.

“I chose to become a nurse because of the joy it truly brings me to help others. The positive impact I have on my patients and their families, and the impact they have on me is very meaningful!” – Edith W., RN.

nurses month

Celebrate with Gifted Healthcare

Gifted is so excited to highlight and celebrate nurses on our social channels all month long! Follow along on Instagram and Facebook for inspiring stories from nurses who are making a difference in their communities, as well as resources and tips to help you on the job. We will also be giving away four Nurse Bundles worth $500! These bundles are filled with products nurses love, like a Stanley Cup, Beis Backpack, Amazon Gift Card, and more!

Don’t miss your chance to celebrate and win with Gifted Healthcare.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

By TheraEx

May 11, 2022

1882 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

What Can You Do To Celebrate National Nurses’ Week?

TheraEx Staffing Services provided this article.

From compassionately assisting with life-threatening medical crises to advocating for the health of their patients during their most vulnerable moments, nurses perform some of the most difficult tasks in the medical world. National Nurses Week honors the contributions and sacrifices nurses make day in and day out and reminds us to thank the medical professionals that work so tirelessly to keep us healthy. With so many healthcare workers risking their health to care for the many communities impacted by COVID-19, the celebration takes on added meaning. Whether you come from a family of nurses, have friends in the nursing field, or you simply want to thank local nurses for their efforts, your support means more now than ever. Here are five ways you can thank the healthcare heroes in your local community for serving their patients with devotion, the utmost care, and exceptional professionalism as they continue to protect our health and safety during a global pandemic.

Be Understanding

Many healthcare workers have risen to the occasion of providing quality care to their communities throughout the pandemic. Nurses and other healthcare workers have taken on extra shifts or put in extra hours to ensure they are able to take care of their patients. If a friend or loved one is in this situation, be mindful of what they are going through and make sure you are not asking or expecting too much of them.

Send Flowers

Sometimes simply saying “Thanks” doesn’t feel like enough. Show some love to a nurse in your life with fresh flowers to show your appreciation for going above and beyond to help you or support you. Flowers like hydrangeas and roses are just the flowers for National Nurses Week because they symbolize gratitude, grace, beauty, and courage.

Donate a Meal

Nurses work long hours with few breaks. What better way to show appreciation and say thank you than with food? Due to COVID-19 protocols, if you’d like to donate a meal to healthcare workers, make sure it’s from a restaurant. Understandably, most hospitals are not accepting homemade goods currently, but many local restaurants are offering free deliveries. A hot meal from a restaurant can provide a sense of normalcy and some much-needed nourishment during a busy shift.

Handwrite a Note or a Card

Cards are a personal way to show someone that you appreciate them. In today’s world, instant communication through emails, social media posts, and text message is commonplace, while receiving a handwritten card or letter is rare. Handwriting a letter to express your gratitude could provide extra motivation for a nurse to continue moving forward during these trying times in the era of COVID-19.

Leave Positive Feedback

Nurses might not realize that the work they do each day is appreciated unless you tell them. Many nursing units provide incentives to nurses who receive positive patient feedback. Call the unit, ask for the charge nurse, ask for the patient feedback email or phone number, and put your experience in writing. Your positive feedback can brighten their day and remind them that their profession to care for others has made a positive impact.

Nominate a Nurse for a DAISY Award

Nurses go above and beyond the call of duty to provide exceptional care. The international DAISY award program celebrates nurses’ extraordinary clinical skills and the compassionate care they provide to their patients. If your life has been touched by an extraordinary nurse, nominate them for a DAISY Award to recognize the admirable attributes they possess.

Being a nurse is often physically demanding and almost always emotionally taxing. Nurses are caregivers, mentors, and leaders, steering the profession towards excellence in patient care and compassion. Today and every day, we thank each and every nurse for their tireless commitment in delivering outstanding patient care. You are our heroes.

We hope you enjoyed this article from TheraEX Staffing Services. What are some ways you like to celebrate Nurses Week? Comment them below.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming assignment? Click here to search our housing page.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Gifted Healthcare

May 4, 2022

4434 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

Iconic Moments in Nursing History

Gifted Healthcare provided this article.

As Nurses Week approaches, let’s kick it off early with a celebration of nursing throughout time with some iconic moments in nursing history.

National Nurses Week is celebrated every year, beginning on May 6th, National Nurses Day, and ending on May 12th, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. This is the time to celebrate the Nurses that heal us every day, put our needs first, and collectively fight for humanity daily. Nurses have championed iconic moments in time throughout history, but the profession was not always respected.

In the 1800s, most “nursing” was executed by family members on sick loved ones at home. There was no schooling, certifications, or training to establish the profession and advance the field of nursing. All of this changed and set nursing forward on a successful path, and now we live in a world where nurses are a critical and essential piece of the healthcare system.

Let’s take a look through moments in time that have brought nursing to where it is today.

1860

Florence Nightingale, the mother of modern nursing, established the very first collegiate nursing school in 1860. The school opened its doors in London, creating an image of nursing as a profession for the first time in history.

Leading up to the school’s opening, Nightingale published the first-ever instruction manual titled “Notes on Nursing.” The manual was full of training tips based on her time running an army field hospital during the Crimean War. She became known as the ‘Lady with the Lamp’ because she put her patients first, often patrolling the hospital at all hours of the night, but the biggest takeaway Nightingale used to propel nursing forward was the need to enhance ventilation and sanitation in hospitals. 

Nightingale incorporated her experience in the school, and it was a major success. It inspired more of its kind, with a nursing school opening in New York City, Connecticut, and Boston in the years following. Nightingale’s original school is still around today and is known as The Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery.

1879

Mary Eliza Mahoney, a child of freed slaves, was the first African American licensed nurse and began working in 1879 at the age of 34, a dream she had had since she was a teenager. Mahoney started working at the New England Hospital for Women and Children as a janitor in her teenage years, hoping to one day become a nurse. She spent 15 years at the hospital, working as a cook, washerwoman, and eventually a nurse’s aide.

Once accepted into nursing school for this experience, Mahoney was one of four students to graduate among a class of 42. This fact alone is exceptional, but what makes it astonishing is that Mahoney did all of this as an African American woman in a time when discrimination was overwhelming.

Due to discrimination, Mahoney spent the next 40 years working as a private nurse, advocating for equal rights, women’s rights, and the rights of children, pioneering a path for minorities in the nursing field.

1947

By this time, the American Nurses Association has been established for more than 35 years and is fighting to continuously improve working environments for registered nurses, but nurses still did not have equality in the field.

Florence Blanchfield was a nurse during both World War I and II and began leading efforts for nurses serving in the military to earn full rank and payment due to the lack of equality she experienced as a nurse serving in the military.

At the time Blanchfield served in the military, women were not treated equally when it came to recognition and pay. In fact, women were discharged immediately if they chose to marry. By 1947, Blanchfield’s efforts were validated, and nurses were granted full rank and equal pay under the Army-Navy Nurses Act of 1947.

1983

Cliff Morrison began working as a nurse at the San Francisco General Hospital in 1979. Within two years, the AIDS epidemic broke out, and the hospital had five ICUs filled with AIDS patients at a time when there was little to no research on the disease. Everyone suffered not only because of the physical and mental effects of the disease but also because of the stigma.

Morrison took care of his roommate at the time, who he believed had AIDS, and used this experience to pioneer the patient care that HIV and AIDS patients deserved. Morrison spent time interviewing patients and gathering information on how nurses could best support and care for the terminally ill.

From Morrison’s research and first-hand experience, Ward 5B was born in July 1983 and was the only unit in the United States dedicated solely to the care of HIV/AIDS patients. It revolutionized the way AIDS patients were treated, placing care and physical touch at the heart of it all.

The nurses of Ward 5B touched their patients without gloves or any protective gear to remove the feeling of ostracization, something a lot of healthcare professionals were too afraid to do at the time.

2020

The year of the nurse. The world began to face the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, and nurses around the globe stepped up to fight.  Everything changed quickly, and many answers were unknown, but that did not prevent nurses from putting their patients first.

Nurses had to shift from floor to floor to prioritize the COVID units and safe care, many working far more hours than they ever had before. Not only was the work dangerous and exhausting, but it was also mentally difficult.

Afomia Bekel from Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, summed up the feeling of thousand of nurses when she said, “The unknown was frightening, but the urgency of the pandemic placed on health care workers all over the world didn’t allow us to sit in that fear or uncertainty for too long.”

Although nurses still face COVID-19 challenges, their work at the height of the pandemic, as well as its ups and downs, have collectively brought the world to a safer standing within the pandemic.

Thank you, Nurses!

Nurses come from a history of heroism, acting on the front lines through iconic moments in humanity’s history. From fighting for recognition and equality in the field to stepping up in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, Nurses deserve the recognition as healthcare professionals they have long-awaited.

The role of the nurse has evolved over time, but some things never change. The profession has been voted first among the professions the public trusts the most multiple times, rightfully so.

Celebrate this Nurses Week by thanking a nurse in your life that has put your care above all else when you needed it most. It is the care they give patients that heals the world.

We hope you enjoyed this article on iconic moments in nursing history. Are there any other iconic moments in nursing history we didn’t include that you think should make the list of moments in nursing history? Comment them below.

Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming assignment? Click here to search our housing page.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Gifted Healthcare

May 6, 2021

5405 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

Happy Nurses Week: Travel Nurses on What Makes a Great Nurse

This article was provided by Gifted Healthcare.

In 1910, the American Journal of Nursing published an article titled, The Ideal Nurse. It was written by a registered nurse named Rebecca H. McNeill.

In The Ideal Nurse, McNeill outlined the qualities of her ideal caretaker. The nurse she describes is compassionate, kind, dedicated, loyal, and motivated by a higher calling:

No true nurse ever loses her sympathy…she has the deep sympathy which causes her not only to feel for her patient’s woes but prompts her best efforts to alleviate them. The true nurse is devoted to her work, faithful in all that she does, neither shrinking nor shirking any responsibility that may present itself. The ideal nurse should be able to understand the whys and wherefores of her physician’s orders and be able to execute them with judgment.”

This vision of the ideal nurse, written over one century ago, is strikingly similar to the vision we uphold today. This is a testament to the heroic work of the nurse, a role that has remained essential and unwavering in the face of profound cultural and technological change.

McNeill also beautifully portrays the life of a nurse; its sacrifices and hardships as well as its transcendent rewards:

Unless a nurse is prepared for a life of untiring effort and disappointments, discomforts or deprivations, countless sacrifices of time, talent, and inclination, unless, indeed, able to suppress her own heartaches and to give herself bravely and brightly to all the work with patience, enduring all things…She must have singleness or purpose, directing all her energies toward the faithful accomplishment of her life’s work; be loyal to her doctor, her patient, and herself….”

Nurses are the backbone of the American healthcare system. Even more, they can be seen as the protectors of the American spirit. When searching for compassion, generosity, loyalty, and duty to one’s fellow man or woman, look to a nurse.

Travel Nurses on What Makes a Great Nurse

In honor of nurses week, we’ve asked a group of exceptional travel nurses to describe what makes a great nurse. Each of them drew from an intensely personal and unique set of experiences to create their own philosophy of care.

Read on for their inspiring, heartwarming answers.

Charlotte Swopes, RN

“First and foremost, you have to care about people. You’ve got to have integrity; people aren’t going to be watching you, so you’ll be expected to be diligent.

You have to have a sense of ethics. You have to see all your patients as one: you can’t look at color, you can’t look at nationality, you can’t look at the economic background. You have to care about your patients regardless of the situation.

You have to have a heart of compassion.”

Megan Selser, RN

“Advocating for your patient is number one, despite any effect it will have on you. Always put patient advocacy in front of everything else.

I love to make my patients laugh. I know what it’s like to feel unhappy — so I try hard to be a light in someone’s day, in some type of way, even if they’re going through something terrible.

I think a great nurse also celebrates wins, even when they’re really small—someone who takes care of the patient and the family. Most of the time, like if a patient is intubated, you become the nurse for their family. Yes, you are there for the patient’s physical needs, but the family is what you’re taking care of. I try to involve the family as much as I can in patient care because it matters.”

Erica Rogers, RN

“My motto is, ‘compassion is the highest level of intellect.’  A brilliant nurse is someone who understands that concept.”

Emmanuel Paron, RN

“As nurses, we are just instruments of the love of God. When you take care of patients, many times they are in their worst moments – you take care of them no matter what.

The core of nursing is caring. When you care for somebody, you do everything you can to take care of them. It can be as simple as holding a patient’s hand.

You educate yourself, study more to become an expert so that when a patient comes into the hospital, you are as prepared as possible to take care of them.

What I believe is that the core of nursing is caring.”

Taylor McCombs, RN

“For me, the ideal nurse is detail-oriented and compassionate. They stick to their own personal morals and values, as well as the principles set by the facility they’re working at. It mostly comes down to the individual – if you hold yourself to high moral standards, it will impact the way that you do your job.”

Chelsea Wynder, RN

“Someone compassionate, who is nurturing, and is the person who will be there when a patient feels they have no one else. That’s what I had when I was sick, and what I needed…and that’s what my mom needed, too.”

Eddie Kaiser, RN

“The standard answer is someone compassionate, who wants good healthcare for their patients, but I like to go deeper. A nurse needs to be somebody who treats their patients as though they are family. However, that patient is also the chairman of the board. For the most part, patients are in control of their care until they can’t be anymore. To me, it’s very important to make sure the patient is shoulder to shoulder with you as a caregiver.

A nurse must be able to think critically through a process of care — for any patient, and you need to ask yourself, ‘What are the family dynamics of this patient? What is their belief system? What are their core values?’ The ideal nurse is well-rounded with all of that, including compassion, patience, caring, attention to detail. And finally, you have to know what you’re doing: you have to be skilled, have to be confident, and have to be able to go into new situations and mesh into the nursing staff. An ideal travel nurse not only has to display these qualities with patients, but they also have to display these qualities with the staff around them.”

Jill Maxwell, RN

“I’ve worked all over, and I’ve worked with a lot of nurses. And there are a few qualities you’ll find in the best ones. You have to be compassionate, and you have to be approachable. 

When people are sick, they want a smiling face.”

James Dorsett, RN

“Someone who’s a straight shooter. Someone who can be honest and not sugarcoat things. Someone empathetic, not sympathetic. And for me, everything is about trust. If you lose the trust of your patient, you lose everything. I am a nurse because I like making an impact in people’s lives. If you do the best you can 100 percent of the time, people remember that.”

Transia Brown, LPN

“I never met my grandparents. I adopted a lot of my friends’ grandparents. When I go into work, I think of my patients like my grandmother or grandfather that I never met.

A lot of people have pride. A lot of my patients are scared to tell me that they’re in pain, or that they need help because they’re not used to being in that situation. But if you make them feel they can trust you and that you’re concerned about them, they’re more open to you.”

I let them know: I’m here for you. Don’t feel like you can’t call me. Whatever you need, call me, and I’m there.

If you can’t go into a facility, or someone’s home, and take care of someone like they are your mom, or your dad, or your brother, or your sister, and treat them the way that you would want to be treated – then you don’t need to be a nurse.

I look at every patient as though they are part of my family because I leave my own family to go out every day and do my job. And when I get older, I would want someone to take care of me as though I am a part of their family. That’s the ideal nurse to me.”

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By The Gypsy Nurse

May 4, 2020

3717 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

The Gypsy Nurse and Titan Medical Group Recognize Special Nurses for Nurses Week 2020

International Year of The Nurse

2020 is the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife.  This special celebration coincides with the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale on May 12, 2020. Now more than ever, it is vital that we recognize nurses and the nursing profession in these challenging times.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, there are thousands of nurses who are going above and beyond every day, risking their lives on the front lines to help others during this unprecedented healthcare crisis.

The Gypsy Nurse along with sponsor Titan Medical Group want to take this opportunity to celebrate and recognize some of these special nurses for Nurses Week 2020 (May 6-12, 2020).   For the past several weeks, we have asked our community to nominate a nurse who has gone beyond the call of duty during the novel coronavirus pandemic, nurses who’s stories and nursing journey represent the best of the nursing profession.   To date, we have received dozens of incredible stories of compassion, sacrifice, heroism, and professionalism.  Beginning this Wednesday, May 6, and each day during Nurses Week, we will recognize and publish the story of a nurse who was nominated for their selflessness and willingness to give their all to their patients and their families.  These incredible nurses and their stories will be published on our Nurses Week 2020 Recognition page. 

These stories may include those nurses whose treatment and relationships with patients have stood out, nurses who have willingly dropped everything to work a COVID-19 assignment to be on the front lines and help those in desperate need.  Some of these stories may also include nurses who have overcome significant personal or professional challenges to serve as a nurse and still made a profound positive impact on their patients and colleagues in the nursing profession.

Please join The Gypsy Nurse and our sponsor Titan Medical Group in celebrating these special nurses and their unique stories on our website during Nurses Week 2020. 

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)