How do you celebrate Nurses Week?

flickr | Elena Roussakis

What are you doing for National Nurses Week? Any special plans, activities or traditions? Every hospital I’ve ever known and every hospital I’ve ever worked for usually has some festivities planned no matter how great or small. Anything from a single day to activities that can span the entire 7 days that come with a full-fledged program of events.

I used to think that the bigger the facility the bigger the event, but there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the festivities. I know some small offices put on quite a show for their nursing staff, and I’ve heard a couple large organizations that almost forget it exists.

Some of the things I’ve witnessed and been a part of include free meals (that can vary from one meal to daily meals for the week), raffles for prizes (scrub uniforms, shoes, equipment, etc.), large extravagant presentations and conferences, free t-shirts (and other paraphernalia), and raffle drawings for free time off (personal time). The list is endless.

I find that when there are nurses behind the driving force for the activities, they tend to be more worth it and a heck of a lot more entertaining.

Aside from the expected activities from facilities that employe nurses, what do you do personally? This is a full week to celebrate anything and everything that you do as a nurse and all that in encompasses. You have to do something special, don’t you?

Unfortunately I tend to think most of us don’t do a whole lot for ourselves. Some nurses forget the event even exists! Hard to believe isn’t it? Most nurses will answer by saying, “There is something going on at work.”

I’m not sure why, but we nurses spend 365 days a year working our butts off, pouring our hearts, our blood, our sweat and our tears into this amazing profession and most of the time all we want is a little recognition for a job well done. I know that most of us sure do feel unappreciated at times (some more than others). We may not say it out loud, but we love when someone validates our efforts – yet we rarely get it.

So.

Here’s the irony. We actually have an entire week dedicated to us and our awesome profession. The one time of the year we can shine and soak up some much needed attention from the public – so why don’t we take advantage of the nationally recognized event?

Maybe it’s due to the fact that most of us our humble. I’m not sure.

I think I’ve said this more than once….

We nurses are a funny bunch, aren’t we?

Happy National Nurses Week to all my fellow warriors out there. You deserve the recognition. Thank you for all that you do!