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With the Oscars just around the corner, where the members of the entertainment world gather to pat each other on the back, it makes one wonder why nurses don’t have their very own Oscars. After all, many of these awards are handed out to actors who imitate what we do in real life.
In the spirit of recognizing the amazing talents of nurses, we roll out the red carpet here and take a look at 10 reasons why we’re Oscar-worthy.
#1: Nurses have true talent minus the diva attitude.
True talent is a gift, one that is subtle, yet always present. A nurse regularly carries out his duties with confidence, knowledge and good grace in the face of the most difficult or unexpected situations, including code browns.
#2: Nurses have The Look.
We all know nurses who have perfected the showstopping Look. It’s the look that’s thrown in the direction of a petulant attending or a whiny visitor. It can stop a tirade cold in its tracks, scare up documents that were deemed “unavailable” and can make grown men tremble in their boots. A real thriller!
#3: Nurses are masters of production and staging.
Nurses are the people who lurk in the background but set the stage so everything runs as smoothly as possible. Which person on staff will gather batteries for the flashlights or scare up a tablecloth and paper cups to celebrate a colleague’s birthday? Yeah. Nurses are invaluable to the smooth running of the unit.
#4: Nurses are natural-born directors.
For every shift, the nurse makes up all the patient assignments and ensures that every other nurse has as fair a load as the next. She is able to anticipate which patients will need the most care and can smooth over any issues that may arise between nurses and their patients. In other words, she’s the one with the master plan!
#5: Nurses are special effects whizzes.
This special award is given to the nurse who can be in all places at all times, all while patiently and effectively dealing with any impending disasters. Sometimes, you can barely believe your eyes.
#6: Nurses have intriguing personal lives.
Every unit has a nurse who could be nominated for this award. He’s the one who has traveled all the continents while writing a novel about saving lives in the desert or jungle. He’s also the one who sees all the movies just as they come out, goes out of town to attend concerts and doesn’t hesitate to share every bit of this with his colleagues.
#7: Nurses know how to look good.
Just because nurses have to wear uniforms to work doesn’t mean they don’t look good. Some nurses just have that flair. Their hair and makeup always looks great; their uniforms are just the right color and style for them. Some of us would like to hate them for it! But all nurses care deeply about their patients and do their best to make their lives better—and are often unaware of their talent, which makes them look all that much better.
#8: Nurses have the best lines and know how to communicate effectively.
A nurse, for lack of time and patience, can get her ideas across in simple words, even a well-timed grunt. Who else can call someone on the phone and masterfully get all the information she needs and can write legibly in a chart and tell a patient’s story in words everyone can understand?
#9: Nurses know something about comic relief.
Nurses are famous for uttering a dry line in response to someone’s comment, which cracks up all who hear it. Nurses have a preternatural ability to find something to laugh at in the toughest of times. They also just know how to bring a smile to the faces of their coworkers and patients when they need it most.
#10: Nurses embody the term “Lifetime Achievement.”
This award should be given to every nurse, especially those who work when their families are at home on a holiday, or during the night when everyone else is sleeping. To the nurses who are bone-tired from working a 12-hour shift and come in the next day to do it all over again. To the nurses who cry with families and to those who feel that they should have been able to do more. And to the nurses who go home at the end of their shift knowing that they helped make a difference in someone’s life. They should be given the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ready to nominate an outstanding nurse who has all these qualities and more in spades? There actually is an Oscars for nurses and it’s called The Cherokee Inspired Comfort Awards. The ICA will begin accepting nominations March 1st so be sure to start preparing now! Learn more about the ICA and 2010 winners by visiting inspiredcomfort.com.
Sponsored by Cherokee Uniforms
