“Constant attention by a good nurse may be just as important as a major operation by a surgeon.”
Dag Hammarskjold, a Swedish Economist and Diplomat
National Nurses Week is celebrated annually from May 6 through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Nurses play a key role in healthcare.According to the American Nursing Association, there are more than 4 million registered nurses in the U.S. Their responsibilities range from assessing patients’ needs and diagnosing illnesses to engaging in health promotion strategies to maximize optimal health outcomes.Physicians refer to nursing reports to effectively monitor and treat patients’ conditions. Accuracy in these reports is ensured with the support of professional medical transcription services.
It was in 1993 that the American Nursing Association permanently designed such a national week to honor the nursing profession. While May 8 is considered as National Student Nurses Day and National School Nurse Day, May 12th is observed as International Nurses Day each year. Hospitals can use this opportunity to extend a special thanks to nurses, for their dedication and the quality care they provide patients. The theme for National Nurses Week in 2019 is “4 Million Reasons to Celebrate“. This theme reflects the number of nurses nationally. This week long celebration aims at raising awareness about the value of nursing as well as educating the public about the role nursing plays in meeting their healthcare needs.
A 2018 survey conducted by Gallup found that 84% of those surveyed rated the honesty and ethical standards of nurses as “very high” or “high” – above that of doctors, pharmacists and teachers.
Hospitals can applaud their team of nurses, nursing assistants, CNAs, and new nursing grads, by
- Presenting them gifts including tech items, apparel, lapel pins, lunch bags, and more
- Conducting contests and letting them win great prizes
- Offering special treats
The American Nurses Association (ANA) also supplies free toolkits to celebrate National Nurses Week in hospitals, practices, and other organizations, which includes large banners for display purposes, thank you card templates, recognition certificates, online digital ads, letterheads and more.
Nurses have to make sure that the reports they submit are accurate. HIPAA-compliant nursing transcription services are available to transcribe all types of nursing reports, including history and physical reports, clinic notes, office notes, and operative reports among others.
