National Nurses Week and National Hospital Week Celebrated

Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) celebrated both National Nurses Week from May 6 - 12, and National Hospital Week from May 8 – 14. The week-long recognition of hospital staff during National Hospital Week was an important reminder to ARMC’s team of healthcare professionals that they play an integral role in the wellness of the community. In recognition of National Nurses Week, this year themed “Patient Safety, It Starts with You,” the Associate Medical Director of ARMC presented awards to the Nurse of the Year and the Nurse Leader of the Year. As the nation’s largest health care event, National Hospital Week is a celebration of the history, technology and dedicated professionals that make hospitals exceptional places to receive care. Not only is ARMC a place where people go for medical assistance, it is also one of the top employers in the region. Beginning at midnight on May 12, ARMC leadership delivered 1,200 custom designed Arrowhead cookies to staff throughout the medical center as well as to staff in the Family Health Care clinics in honor of their ongoing compassion, innovation, and dedication to the hospital. On May 10, Dr. Mark Comunale, Chief Patient Safety Officer and Associate Medical Director, was the keynote speaker at the awards ceremony that took place to recognize the outstanding contributions of ARMC’s nursing staff in celebration of the National Nurses Week theme this year. Awards were presented for Nurse of the Year and Nurse Leader of the Year, in which there were 58 nominations to consider. In addition, nursing leadership delivered ice cream to nurses in each unit of the hospital to honor them for their compassion, special abilities to teach and mentor, and devotion to excellence in patient care. About National Hospital Week National Hospital Week is the nation’s largest health care event, dating back to 1921 when it was suggested by a magazine editor. The editor’s goal was to start a communitywide celebration that would alleviate public fears about hospitals. The celebration, launched in Chicago, succeeded in promoting trust and goodwill among members of the public and it eventually spread to facilities across the country. About National Nurses Week The American Nursing Association supports and encourages National Nurses Week recognition programs through the state and district nurses associations, other specialty nursing organizations, educational facilities, and independent health care companies and institutions. National Nurses Week recognizes the contributions that nurses and nursing make to the community. It begins each year on May 6 and ends on May 12, Florence Nightingale's birthday. The English nurse became known as the founder of professional nursing, especially due to her pioneering work during the Crimean War (1853-1856). National Nurses Week was first observed in October 1954, the 100th anniversary of Nightingale's mission to Crimea.