May 6-12, is National Nurses Week. It’s an annual thing. It’s a time when nurses and nursing assistants get recognition for their work. Not all healthcare entities recognize nurses week. Some factors include budgeting and the willingness to honor the staff. If the workplace has incorporated it in the budget, freebies and/or meals are provided. Typically hospitals combine National Nurses Week with National Hospital Week, which celebrates everyone.
There’s a plethora of nurses. For those of you without a medical background the nursing field consists of: nursing assistants, Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN), Registered Nurses (RN), Nurse Practitioners (NP), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD), nurse scientists, nurse anesthetists, and more.
2020 has started with various challenges in healthcare due to the global pandemic of Covid-19. Those challenges include supply shortages and medical staff dying after caring for those infected with the virus. This is definitely the time to celebrate nurses and all hospital staff.
Healthcare Freebies
Several businesses are providing free gifts to healthcare workers amid Covid-19 pandemic and nurses week. I’ve taken advantage of a few. Make sure to bring your work badge.
- Krispy Kreme – Free dozen Original glazed doughnuts every Monday until May 11th to healthcare workers
- McDonald’s – Free Thank You meals to first responders and healthcare workers. The Thank You meal can be used during morning, afternoon, or night hours until May 5th.
- Starbucks – Free coffee until May 3rd.
- BP Gas Station– 50 cents off per gallon. Learn more here.
- Crocs – Free pair of Croc’s on the Croc’s website at designated times.
- Sams Club – Shop on Sundays from 8am-10am. No membership needed.
Nursing History
The nurses week celebration occurs during this particular week to honor nurse extraordinaire, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Most consider her the founder of modern nursing. During the Crimean War in 1854, she and a group of 38 women were helping the soldiers get well. She knew it was necessary for the hospital environment to be clean. Nurses, do you remember Environmental Theory? This was one of my favorites. I actually went to the Florence Nightingale Museum in London last year. Read about it here.
Since I mentioned a first, I want to mention the first African American professionally trained nurse, Mary Eliza Mahoney. She graduated in 1879. During her nursing career she served as director for Howard Orphan Asylum. She was also the co-founder of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN) in 1908.
Anna DeCosta Banks, RN is another African American nurse who is worthy of recognition. She was born on September 2, 1869 in Charleston, SC. At the Hospital and Training School for Nurses on 135 Cannon Street Downtown Charleston is where she served the African American population in her role as head nurse. She worked with African American physician, Dr. Alonzo McClennan. Dr. McClennan founded the hospital. The hospital was later named McClennan- Banks in their honor. If you visit MUSC’s College of Nursing you will see a beautiful portrait of Mrs. Banks.
Personal Impact of Nurses
My high school Health Occupations teacher was Ms. Marie Mills, RN. She laid the foundation of nursing in my life. The class duration was 2 years. This is where my nursing discipline and structure began. I have skills and knowledge today that I still use such as medical terminology, medical abbreviations, and bed making. All are important; however, I didn’t learn them in nursing school. Good thing I had that foundation. After graduating high school I’d learn that Ms. Mills taught my Aunt Dee who’s a retired LPN.
Lastly, I want to tell you about my maternal great-great grandmother, Essie W. Wilson. She was a nurse midwife in the early 1900s. I recall the stories of her delivering my mother and countless other babies in the community, black and white. I’ve actually seen a copy of her midwifery degree from HBCU (Historically Black College & University) Morris College. I’m so proud of my nursing lineage.
