By Cecilia Nasmith
With the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, Northumberland Hills Hospital and Northumberland Hills Hospital Foundation are celebrating National Nursing Week – May 11-17 – with virtual observances.
The date sets aside the week beginning with Florence Nightingale's birthday of May 12, This year happens to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of the British nurse, social reformer and statistician considered the founder of modern nursing.
To observe the occasion in a way that respects current physical-distancing requirements, the NHH (in partnership with the foundation) will be sharing a series of video postcards through their social-media platforms.
Ten videos showcasing NHH nurses busy at infection control, community mental health, surgical services, intensive care, clinical informatics, cancer care and other vital areas of service were shot on-site, outside the hospital and in individual nurses' homes. Two per day will be aired Monday through Friday this week.
NHH Vice-president of Patient Services and Chief Nursing Executive Susan Walsh said in the press release that, while a hospital requires the shared leadership of many professions, nurses make up almost 50% of the NHH staff complement.
“Our aim with this social-media campaign is to highlight representative voices of the many talented and dedicated Registered Nurses, Nurse Practitioners and Registered Practical Nurses working at NHH today,” Walsh said.
“At a time when we cannot gather in person, we are offering these video postcards as a look into the people behind the profession and, more specifically, the many diverse roles that nursing careers offer today and the great variety with which the nursing profession is positively impacting care in the hospital and community.”
Walsh invites everyone to follow the campaign on a favourite social-media platform, and help share these video messages.
“On behalf of the entire team at NHH, happy Nursing Week!” she said.
“It is truly our honour to be part of the many professions serving this community during this challenging COVID-19 environment and beyond.”
