NURSES National
WEEK
2019
Nurses bring smiles to the faces of their patients. Find out how you can show your appreciation and garner a few smiles in return.
How to show a nurse you care
Nurses are often the fi rst people patients see
when visiting hospitals. According to the
United States Department of Health and
Human Services Health Resources Services
Administration there were 2.8 million registered
nurses, including advanced practice registered
nurses, and 690,000 licensed practical nurses, in
the United States between the years of 2008 and
2010.
Nurses fi ll many roles in the medical community,
assisting doctors and helping to make in-patient
stays more comfortable for men and women who
are ill or injured. Specialized nurses, such as nurse
practitioners, may even serve as the primary
healthcare provider, offering diagnoses and writing
prescriptions.
While there is a specifi c week set aside to show
appreciation to nurses, many people agree that
they deserve recognition throughout the year. Any
instance is a good time to give back to nurses, and the
following are a few ways to honor the nurses in your
life:
Play caretaker to him or her. Nurses tend to
the needs of others all the time, but some nurses do
not get the respite they deserve. Those who want to
show appreciation to a nurse who has helped them in
their lives can present the nurse with a gift card for a
massage and soothing spa treatment.
Cater a meal. Offer to cater a meal at the hospital
or medical offi ce so that all nurses on staff can benefi t.
If there is one nurse in particular you want to treat,
give that nurse a gift card to a nearby restaurant.
Provide foot relief. Nurses spend hours on their
feet, and that can cause pain or stiffness throughout
the body. Present a gift card to a store that specializes
in comfort shoes or custom orthotics. A certifi cate
for a pedicure or foot massage would no doubt be
appreciated as well.
Create a charmed existence. Charm bracelets
are the rage right now, and nurses may appreciate a
bracelet that highlights their career path with specifi c
charms. For something they can wear on the job, treat
nurses to a Steth-o-Charm, which is a charm that
slides securely onto stethoscopes. These charms come
in many designs and can make for a memorable gift.
Give a decorative badge reel. Nurses must
wear identifi cation or have swipe cards on them to
gain access to areas of hospitals. Many badges are
standard items without any fl are or style. A colorful
or decorative badge reel can be a nice way to brighten
up a nurse’s day.
Give verbal or handwritten thanks. One of
the easiest and most heartfelt ways to show your
appreciation to nurses is to simply tell them how you
feel. Offer a handwritten note or speak with a nurse
in person. Such a simple gesture does not take much
effort, but it is bound to make an impact.
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