NURSES National
WEEK
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
Caribbean L 38 ife, May 3–9, 2019
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.
2019
How to show a nurse you care
Nurses bring smiles to the faces of their patients. Find out how you can show your appreciation
and garner a few smiles in return.
When it’s time to show some appreciation
for all that a nurse does every day, a gift of
self-nurturing will go a long way.