Nurses Week

Times Contributor       

 

From May 12 to May 18, 2014, the United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) along with its over 30,000 members strong will wear white to remind all Albertans of the work that nurses do as advocates for their patients in need. The efforts surrounding National Nurses Week show support and celebrates the vital and efficient work that nurses do, in Alberta and throughout the world. “Florence Nightingale, whose birthday fell on May 12 – the first day of National Nursing Week 2014 – which this year is the first day of National Nursing Week 2014, reminded us in her writing that nursing is about patient advocacy.” (UNA information). 

While for the most part scrubs of every colour and description, including cartoons and symbols, are seen these days in the hospital and in the doctors offices, nurses nationally will choose to wear white this week to not only show who they are to the public but also as a reminder to everyone as to what they do.

The nurses of Strathmore and the hospital celebrated the day by wearing white and a light lunch and cake were served at the hospital on Monday, May 12.

Like the physician’s Hippocratic oath, the nurses also follow an oath from Florence Nightingale: “I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever deleterious and mischievous, and will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.”

This week and in the weeks to follow, if you happen to come across a nurse for whatever reason, remember that they are there for you, to help and aid you, to give you comfort in times of need whether great or small. They are the ones with exceptional bedside manner and often carry the weight of their patients on their shoulders. Considered by many as unsung heroes, make sure you stop and say thank you. They deserve it more than you can imagine.