National Nurses Week, May 6-12, 2009, "Nurses: Building a Healthy America"

Posted 04:40 PM, May 05, 2009, by jaruiz

Sponsored by the American Nurses Association, National Nurses Week 2009, "Nurses: Building a Healthy America," is celebrated each year from May 6th to May 12th. The American Nurses Association characterizes the importance of this week as follows: "Often described as an art and a science, nursing is a profession that embraces dedicated people with varied interests, strengths and passions because of the many opportunities the profession offers. As nurses, we work in emergency rooms, school based clinics, and homeless shelters, to name a few. We have many roles--from staff nurse to educator to nurse practitioner and nurse researcher--and serve all of them with passion for the profession and with a strong commitment to patient safety."

The week of May 6th to 12th was chosen because of its special significance to nursing. May 12th is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing; May 6th is also known as National Nurses Day; May 8th was designated in 1998 as National Student Nurses Day, which is also celebrated annually; and in 2003, the Wednesday within National Nurses Week (May 6th-12th) was designated as National School Nurse Day. For more information on the history and significance of National Nurses Week, please access http://www.nursingworld.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/MediaResources/
NationalNursesWeek/NNWHistory.aspx.

Our radiologic nurses at Stanford Hospital and Clinics are dedicated professionals, building a healthy America one patient at a time. During National Nurses Week 2009, our nurses will be honored by a special lunch and dessert. In recognition of National Nurses Week, some of our nurses have created posters that are on display in the SHC atrium. Please stop by to view them.