Monday, May 11, 2009
Presbyterian has kicked off two anticipated annual events — the celebration of National Nurses Week, May 6 to May 13 and Healthcare Week, which is May 10 to May 16.
“This is a special time to celebrate all of the hard work that our employees do each and every day in their commitment to the remarkable patient experience,” said Robin Cady, workforce initiatives manager and the organizer of Healthcare Week and some Nurses Week activities.
As a part of the festivities that will take place across the Charlotte region, each Presbyterian employee and nurse will receive a gift, take part in an employee appreciation meal and can attend a variety of events to recognize employees, leaders and physicians including Blessing of the Hands ceremonies and wellness fairs, which will provide a variety of health resources, screenings and information to employees.
Some special employees will be recognized during the week with the prestigious Employee of the Year, Leader of the Year, Nurse of the Year, and Physician of the Year awards for each Presbyterian facility and for the area physician practices.
One past recipient of the Presbyterian Hospital Nurse of the Year Award, Jean Williams, RN, recently reflected on what Healthcare Week and Nurses Week mean to her. “I love Healthcare Week and Nurses Week because it’s a time to celebrate everyone who shares a role in what we do for our patients,” Williams said. “And as a breast cancer survivor, I’ve been on the other side of nursing as a patient, and it makes me appreciate the field in a whole new way.”
As a nurse who works in the family care unit for women after delivery, Williams also enjoys the relationship that she develops with new moms. “I have developed a lot of friendships with moms who have children that are now three and four that I keep in touch with,” she said. “I see these children as babies when they leave, and now I receive Christmas cards and they’re little boys and girls!”
