By The Gypsy Nurse

May 6, 2019

9643 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

Florence Nightingale: 4 Million Reasons To Celebrate

It’s Nurses Week. The Theme for National Nurses Week 2019 is 4 Million Reasons to Celebrate — a nod to nurses’ sheer numbers and an open invitation to #ThankaNurse for enriching our lives and the world we live in.

4 Million Reasons To Celebrate

With over 4 million Registered Nurses in the USA, we have a lot to celebrate. Nursing is considered one of the ‘most trusted’ occupations with the highest honesty and ethical standards of any industry.

Nursing has changed a lot in the years since Miss Florence Nightingale. However, nurses still share similar values and commitment to those of Florence Nightingale.

Today’s nurses share similar values and commitment to those of Miss Nightingale:

  • uphold a commitment to addressing many public health challenges to transform health care to focus on health and wellness, in addition to illness care.
  • commitment to delivering culturally competent care and increasing diversity and inclusion in nursing.
  • ground-breaking work as researchers, executives, educators and innovators on national and global initiatives.

Florence Nightingale

(12 May 1820 – 13 August 1910)

Florence Nightingale was a celebrated English social reformer and statistician, and the founder of modern nursing.

Florence Nightingale – Trailer from Odyssey Networks on Vimeo

She is a ‘ministering angel’ without any exaggeration in these hospitals, and as her slender form glides quietly along each corridor, every poor fellow’s face softens with gratitude at the sight of her. When all the medical officers have retired for the night and silence and darkness have settled down upon those miles of prostrate sick, she may be observed alone, with a little lamp in her hand, making her solitary rounds.

  • She came to prominence while serving as a nurse during the Crimean War, where she tended to wounded soldiers.
  • During the Crimean war, Florence Nightingale gained the nickname “The Lady with the Lamp” from a phrase in a report in The Times.
  • In 1860, Nightingale laid the foundation of professional nursing with the establishment of her nursing school at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.
  • International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on her birthday.
  • The first trained Nightingale nurses began work on 16 May 1865 at the Liverpool Workhouse Infirmary.
  • Her social reforms include being a pioneer in the visual presentation of information and statistical graphics.[31]
  • Improving healthcare for all sections of British society;
  • Improving healthcare and advocating for better hunger relief in India;
  • Helping to abolish laws regulating prostitution that were overly harsh to women;
  • Expanding the acceptable forms of female participation in the workforce. Wikipedia

How you can #ThankaNurse this Nurses Week

Are you interested in
Becoming a ‘Gypsy Nurse’?
START HERE

By The Gypsy Nurse

April 7, 2019

8565 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

Nurses Week: Gift Guide

Check out this Nurses Week Gift Guide for great tips on recognizing that special Travel Nurse in your life.

Nurses Week is fast approaching.

Nurses Week – May 6-12th 

Do you have a travel nurse in your life? Wonder how you can thank them for this Nurses Week? We put together a holiday gift guide for the travel nurse that is good any time of the year.

Don’t forget that whatever gift you choose for your Travel Nurse, make sure it’s small and appropriate to traveling.

1.) Food

Is there a special grocery item that your traveler can’t find locally? Something that they found while traveling that they can’t stop talking about? Browse the grocery isles and find something unique to your local. (spices and snacks top this list).

2.) Homemade

Everyone loves something that has a bit of heart and thought into it. Send your traveler a box of homemade cookies or another of their favorite treats. Homemade items make great gifts.

3.) From the Kids

Travelers miss being away from grandchildren, nieces, and nephews (and other children in their life). What better than to have your little one create a hand-made card or picture to say Thank You to the traveler in your life.

4.) Everything in a Jar

I just LOVE these. You can tailor them to suit just about anyone. My favorite is the “Energy in a Jar” – Everyone knows that nursing takes everything out of you and a little boost of energy never hurts.

5.) Compression Socks

Nurses spend a lot of time on their feet. In addition, travelers often spend hours driving from assignment to assignment. Compression socks aren’t just for the elderly anymore. Check out these recommended Compression Socks that would make a great gift for any nurse this Nurses Week.

Interested in what FREEBIES and DEALS are available for Nurses this Nurses Week? Some of these 2018 Deals might still be ongoing. 


Do you want to Explore Travel Nursing?

START HERE


By The Gypsy Nurse

May 8, 2013

9909 Views

ADVERTISEMENT

History of Nurse’s Week

A Brief History of National Nurse’s Week

1953

Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare sent a proposal to President Eisenhower to proclaim a “Nurse Day” in October of the following year. The proclamation was never made.

1954

National Nurse Week was observed from October 11 – 16. The year of the observance marked the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s mission to Crimea. Representative Frances P. Bolton sponsored the bill for a nurse week. Apparently, a bill for a National Nurse Week was introduced in the 1955 Congress, but no action was taken. Congress discontinued its practice of joint resolutions for national weeks of various kinds.

1972

Again a resolution was presented by the House of Representatives for the President to proclaim “National Registered Nurse Day.” It did not occur.

1974

In January of that year, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) proclaimed that May 12 would be “International Nurse Day.” (May 12 is the birthday of Florence Nightingale.) Since 1965, the ICN has celebrated “International Nurse Day.”

1974

In February of that year, a week was designated by the White House as National Nurse Week, and President Nixon issued a proclamation.

1978

New Jersey Governor Brendon Byrne declared May 6 as “Nurses Day.” Edward Scanlan, of Red Bank, N.J., took up the cause to perpetuate the recognition of nurses in his state. Mr. Scanlan had this date listed in Chase’s Calendar of Annual Events. He promoted the celebration on his own.

1981

ANA, along with various nursing organizations, rallied to support a resolution initiated by nurses in New Mexico, through their Congressman, Manuel Lujan, to have May 6, 1982, established as “National Recognition Day for Nurses.”

1982

In February, the ANA Board of Directors formally acknowledged May 6, 1982, as “National Nurses Day.” The action affirmed a joint resolution of the United States Congress designating May 6 as “National Recognition Day for Nurses.”

1982

President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation on March 25, proclaiming “National Recognition Day for Nurses” to be May 6, 1982.

1990

The ANA Board of Directors expanded the recognition of nurses to a week-long celebration, declaring May 6 – 12, 1991, as National Nurses Week.

1993

The ANA Board of Directors designated May 6 – 12 as permanent dates to observe National Nurses Week in 1994 and in all subsequent years.

1996

The ANA initiated “National RN Recognition Day” on May 6, 1996, to honor the nation’s indispensable registered nurses for their tireless commitment 365 days a year. The ANA encourages its state and territorial nurses associations and other organizations to acknowledge May 6, 1996, as “National RN Recognition Day.”

1997

The ANA Board of Directors, at the request of the National Student Nurses Association, designated May 8 as National Student Nurses Day.