May 6th, National Nurses Day, marks the beginning of a yearly, week-long celebration of nurses. The celebration culminates on May 12th, the birthday of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale. Nightingale was known as “the Lady with the Lamp” due to her propensity for doing nightly rounds while treating wounded soldiers during the Crimean War. She drastically reduced the death rate of the wounded with her strict adherence to handwashing and hygiene practices. Her work in the Crimean War and in establishing St. Thomas’ Hospital and the Nightingale Training School for Nurses paved the way for the profession of nursing as we know it today. Prior to Nightingale’s work, nursing was considered a menial job, looked down upon by the upper classes. Nightingale, however, felt that nursing was a divine calling for her. This sentiment is echoed by many nurses today, who call the profession a vocation. Senior Lifestyle is proud to recognize the contributions of nurses everywhere who answered this call and providing quality care as well as compassion in every setting.
Nurses are the foundation of the medical profession. They often work long hours to assist with care needs both large and small, whether in a hospital setting, a provider’s office, or a senior living community. While on shift, personal concerns take a backseat to patient care. Nurses also spend a great deal of time on charting, paperwork and continuing education, often on their own time. Even with all these factors in play, many nurses, like Florence Nightingale, claim that the profession chose them! Nursing is consistently ranked as one of the most trusted professions, and rightly so; nurses often see us at our worst. They care for us when we’re in pain, frightened and confused; despite nearly impossible workloads, they dispense kindness and comfort along with medications, easing the stress of being a patient.
At Senior Lifestyle, we are continually amazed by the dedication our nurses show each day, providing top notch clinical care and an unmatched level of compassion for our residents and their families. They prove that nursing is as much an art as it is a science, especially in senior living. To learn more about Nurses Week celebrations in a Senior Lifestyle community near you, please visit our website, and of course, be sure to celebrate Florence Nightingale’s legacy by thanking a nurse!