If your business touches the healthcare world in any way, you likely have National Nurses Week circled on your calendar. It runs May 6 through May 12 this year, and it’s a whole week set aside to recognize the nurses who keep everything moving. But honestly, you don’t need a healthcare connection to have a reason to celebrate.
Most people couldn’t tell you what a nurse actually does in a given shift, and that’s kind of the problem.. While doctors diagnose and surgeons operate, nurses are the ones in the room, managing medications, monitoring vitals, answering call buttons at 3 a.m., and holding a patient’s hand when family can’t be there. They do the hard, unglamorous, essential work that most of us only fully appreciate when we’re on the receiving end of it.
Chances are you know at least one nurse personally. A colleague, a neighbor, a family member. This week is the perfect prompt to reach out and say something real to them about what they do.
And if you’re an employer or manager in the healthcare space, don’t let this week slip by without doing something. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. The point is that people notice when leadership shows up for them, and they notice just as much when it doesn’t.
That doesn’t have to mean a big budget. A handwritten note with a specific, genuine observation about someone’s work can go further than a gift card ever will. But if you do have room to spend, spend it thoughtfully. A personalized recognition award engraved with a nurse’s name and years of service is something they’ll keep long after the week is over.
For nurses who’ve been at it for years, a milestone deserves more than a card. Something from the executive gifts collection is a good place to look. Some of these folks have been doing this for twenty years and a gift card isn’t going to cut it.
And whatever you end up doing, just make it genuine. Nurses deal with people all day long. They can tell when something is heartfelt and when it’s just going through the motions. A little sincerity goes a long way.