National Nurses' Week celebrated May
6-12
In 1857, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a poem titled
Santa Filomena, in which he described how a young woman
watched over the patients in the army hospital at night,
alone and carrying a lamp. "In that hour of misery,
a Lady with a lamp I see ..."
Those words not only immortalized Florence Nightingale,
but also the profession she was practicing during the
Crimean War-nursing. After returning from that war in
1856, she worked as a leader of the movement to reduce
sickness and poverty in Britain. She became a public
health adviser to governments all over the world. Though
many believe it, Nightingale did not invent nursing.
There were already female nurses in British hospitals
before 1856. What she did do was to make it safe for
single women to be employed as nurses. This opened up
a new career opportunity for middle-class women, and
improved the quality and quantity of female nurses.
Nightingale died in 1910 and was buried in the churchyard
in England. But her legacy lives on with each graduating
class of nursing students.
To recognize the many contributions of the profession,
Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health,
Education, and Welfare sent a proposal to U.S. President
Eisenhower asking him to proclaim a special day for nurses.
There was no proclamation rendered. However, later that
year, National Nurses' Week was observed marking the
100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale's mission to
Crimea.
In 1974, after the proclamation by the International
Council of Nurses that May 12, would be 'International
Nurse Day,' President Nixon designated a week as 'National
Nurse Week.'
Eight years later, the American Nurses Association board
of directors, in a joint resolution with the United States
Congress, designated May 6, to be 'National Recognition
Day for Nurses.' President Reagan then signed this proposal.
This day was expanded to a week (May 6-12) in 1990. The
week begins on May 6, with the 'National Recognition
Day for Nurses' and ends on May 12, the birthday of Florence
Nightingale.
"Nurses' Week was created to honor the nurses that
give care to millions of patients each day of the year," says
Ann Pelissier Neeld, vice president of patient care services
and chief nursing officer at Battle Creek Health System. "It
is no surprise that the public continuously rates nursing
as one of the most respected professions. Their healing
hands and vigilant attention to their patients' needs
nurture the human spirit. While complimentary words are
not adequate to express the gratitude of patients for
their kindness and countless, selfless deeds throughout
the year, BCHS can extend our heartfelt thanks annually
during Nurses' Week."
Battle Creek Health System, sponsored by two parent
organizations--Trinity Health (the fourth largest Catholic
health system in the U.S. with 21 hospitals, 9 nursing
homes, 19 senior house facilities, 8 home health care
agencies, and 4 hospices in Michigan alone) and BCHS
Community Partners, is accredited by the Joint Commission
on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Battle
Creek Health System is a recipient of the 2008 HealthGrades
Orthopaedic Surgery Excellence Award(tm) and 2009 Five
Star rated for joint replacement surgery and total knee
replacement. HealthGrades is a leading health care information
company that provides objective 'report card' ratings
nationwide. BCHS provides excellent health care for the
community and promotes wellness for the whole person
with access and compassion for all. For the latest medical
information, visit the BCHS web site at www.bchealth.com
or call the BCHS Marketing Department at (269) 966-8132.
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