Thank a Nurse Because They Deserve It!
May is NURSE APPRECIATION MONTH. For some of you, that means the man or woman who comes to your house once or twice a week, or possibly every day of the week, should be given some extra appreciation and special treatment by you this month. For those of you who live in an assisted living facility or nursing home, you also need to be extra-mindful of the men and women who help you bathe, get dressed, help you with therapy and exercise, make sure you get your meds, enjoy three meals a day, and a gazillion other things to help you enjoy the greatest possible quality of life you can.
For some seniors—those who are still enjoying good health and an active and independent lifestyle—nurses are the ones they see when they visit the doctor or dentist, or who come to speak to your civic group about the things you need to do in order to try to maintain your good health and independence.
No matter what your level of interaction with nurses is, I think we can all agree that they are heroes and heroines in the world of medicine. To set aside this month to express an added degree of appreciation for them and the work that they do, is well-deserved. So, without further ado, here are a few ways you can show them how special they are:
- Bake cookies or cinnamon rolls and deliver them to your doctor’s office(s).
- Treat your home healthcare workers to a basket of goodies (gift cards, flowers, lotion, a book, etc.)
- Pay your home healthcare worker a little bonus.
- Order flowers to be delivered to the nursing home for the nurses caring for you, your spouse, or your elderly parent.
- Send or deliver thank-you notes to the nurses at the care facility and/or doctor’s office(s) you are associated with.
- Treat the nurses you come in contact with, with dignity, respect, and kindness EVERY TIME you see them.
- Do you use social media? Give nurses in general a ‘shout out’ of appreciation once a week this month. You can also post something like this on the social media pages for home healthcare agencies, care facilities, and the personal pages of the nurses in your life.
- Make a donation in a specific nurse’s name to a charitable organization such as the Red Cross, St. Jude’s, cancer research, or Alzheimer’s research.
- Have pizza delivered to the nurse’s station on the floor of the hospital you were one, or to the care facility you or your loved one is associated with.
- Ask your adult children to write notes and/or give gifts of appreciation to your home healthcare worker. After all, what the home healthcare worker does for you, is the same as doing it for your children.
Nursing is the nation’s largest healthcare profession. There are nearly 4 million!!! RNs in the United States as of early 2022. And that’s not counting the LPNs and CNAs. Or the Nurse Practitioners. I am especially conscious of this because one of the most important people in my life is a nurse. My oldest daughter is a critical care cardiac nurse. We are immensely proud of her and thankful for her willingness to care, comfort, and offer healing and hope to her patients and their families. So, please don’t fail to recognize that nursing is most definitely a profession we cannot exist without, and one that most definitely deserves our undying gratitude, respect, and recognition for who and what they bring to our lives.
Guest post By Darla Noble
The views expressed by the author may not reflect the views of Age Safe America, LLC. The content here should not be taken as medical, legal or financial advice. The content here is for informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your own healthcare, legal or financial professional with any questions.