HOW VETERANS AFFAIRS IS CELEBRATING NURSES IN 2023
National Nurses Month appreciates the job that nurses do. Nurses are the best support system for patients while in hospitals. They're always around and ready to help. It’s not just a job to them, but part of their identity to help people. May is National Nurses Month, and this year, there are simple but meaningful things to consider when celebrating nurses across the country.Related: What Really are the Best Jobs for Veterans…and How Do You Get Them?
How the Department of Veterans Affairs is Celebrating National Nurses Month
The Department of Veterans Affairs celebrates National Nurses Month by highlighting the selfless good deeds that nurses do every day for their communities. Each week represents a different topic showcasing one aspect of being a Veterans Affairs (VA) nurse.
National Nurses Month: Self-Care, Recognition, Professional Development, and Community
Nurses work in medicine alongside doctors and help patients both mentally and physically. They're among the first ones to hear cries for help when patients are in need. It’s difficult for nurses when patients' families rely on them for difficult and scary information. The pressure put on nurses is immense. National nurses month celebrates self-care and encourages nurses to take time for themselves. Taking time off to enjoy other hobbies can help keep nurses feeling their best. Give thanks to a nurse in your area if you can. Even buying a fruit basket for a doctor's office can be a great way to show support to local everyday heroes. Pro tip: Nurses love humor, so getting them a card with a funny quote or meme could also make a grand gesture of appreciation and make them smile. Letting the doctor's office know a specific nurse was helpful or kind is also a great way to improve their work life. Putting the spotlight on them and their accomplishments is a great way to give back to nurses and help them make more income. According to Indeed, Veterans Affairs nurses make around $79,000 annually in Tennessee, about $30,000 above the livable wage. Nurses are everywhere. Nurses work with Veterans, schools with kids, and everyday people. They love helping the injured or ill and show compassion for each patient. Having a solid community surrounding nurses is essential to their health. Offering to support a nurse demonstrates the community’s appreciation and willingness to help in hard times. Suggested Read: When Is Military Appreciation Month? Why Do We Celebrate It?
Showing Gratitude to VA Nursing
Nursing at the VA means student nurses have to go through at least four and even up to six years of education. Their education is the first step in creating heroes. After they undergo rigorous training, they are thrust into the workforce. This shows their adaptability to be a nurse and their dedication and persistence to helping others. Showing gratitude to nurses helps them stay motivated and maintain better mental health. This is vital for someone caring for over ten to twenty individuals daily. Sending a card, a recording, or even grabbing dinner with a nurse you know will go a long way in celebrating nurses this month.
Understanding the Nursing Profession
Nurses help everyone, regardless of age, which requires excellent people skills. Nurses at the VA and registered nurses across America have a packed schedule on a daily basis. First, nurses have the responsibility and training to monitor patients' vitals. They must be able to identify and distribute drugs for all types of acute care and procedures. Third, nurses must be physically fit to handle the stress of working on their feet all day. Finally, Nurses must have a solid recall to provide doctors with correct information about a patient’s status. According to the job-finding site,Indeed, Nurses make around $79,000 annually. They are working around the clock to help patients and their families. It’s high pay but a high-stress job that can include many overtime hours and emotional complications.
Nominate Nurses For a Daisy Award
This is the chance to spoil a nurse that has cared for a patent in a way that will always be remembered. Nominating them to win a daisy award during National Nurses Month is one of the many ways to help celebrate their careers. The Daisy Award is an award that the family of J. Patrick Barnes created to celebrate the nurses who were with him during his eight-week hospital stay. Barnes had a rare autoimmune disease that ultimately proved fatal. He died in 1999. This award is recognized in the U.S. and thirty-five other countries and territories. This award helps nurses feel recognized, which in turn helps motivate them and provides additional job satisfaction, encouraging them to continue in the challenging field of nursing. Read Next: Untold Stories: The Female Heros of Pearl Harbor