From AUHS to all nurses, we thank you: Happy Nurses week

As we honor our nurses this week, their duty plugs on.

National Nurses week, officially named May 6-12, has quite the history.

After several attempts to officially declare a day, or an entire week to nurses, in 1978, the state of New Jersey made it happen.

New Jersey Governor, Brendon Byrne officially, and simply, declared May 6, 1978 (and onward) as, “Nurses Day.”

This proposed date originated in Red Bank, NJ,  and held true for 12 years before it expanded to an entire week.

In 1990, The American Nurses Association (ANA) extended the recognition for nurses to officially announce May 6-12 as a week-long celebration.

Three years later, the ANA board of directors solidified the week to be set in stone for all future endeavors regarding nurses.

In 1998, per request from The National Student Nursing Association (NSNA), May 8 was designated as “National Student Nurses Day”.

Fast forward to 2013: the tradition still stands.

According to a U.S. Weekly source:

“This year, we’re recognizing nurses’ impact on elevating the quality of care through innovation and using data to devise more effective care strategies. This work contributes to our ultimate goal: better quality health care for all,” said American Nurses Association President Karen A. Daley in a press release.

As recognition proceeds across the country this week, clever ideas and gestures are pronounced as perfect ways to celebrate.

Many nurses agree that a free classic cinnabon or minibon roll from the delicious Cinnabon, or a free buca-taster bowl of macaroni and cheese from Italian eatery, Buca Di Beppo are wonderful ways to be recognized.

Universities nationwide honor their students, offering free coffee, candy and prizes. Medical companies offer discounts and coupons to nurses and consumers. Even community members are taking the time to stop and say, “thank you.”

Awards have been given. Honorary dinners have been conducted. Treats have been redeemed. Even so, with recognition beaming, a nurse’s calling still remains.

In Youngstown, Oh., nurses spent their honorary week caring for others.

The members of District 3 Ohio Nurses Association spent the afternoon of May 7 bagging pasta for the Second Harvest Food Bank.  They also donated food items and over $1,000 to the organization.

Amidst recognition, B.S.N. students all across the country, including students at American University of Health Sciences (AUHS), still attended clinical sites and spent countless hours in the library.

Nurses all across the country still worked 12+ hour shifts this week to care for patients. Overnight hours. Double shifts.

So yes, this week, since 1990, has been deemed as National Nurses Week, but as we continue to recognize our lifesavers, we still are forever in debt to them.

It takes more than a week to be thankful for what they have done for our friends, families and loved ones.

This week, stop and say, “thank you,” to a nurse that you know. Show your appreciation. Send them your love. But more importantly, continue to thank them. One week will never be enough to honor their dedication to OUR lives.

For nursing students in school, continue to study hard, your dedication will be a blessing to others for the remainder of your life.

God bless all nursing students, professors and professionals. We appreciate you.