The team at Med Mart would like to say THANK YOU to nurses everywhere!

Today is National Nurses Day and the first day of National Nurses Week! Do you have a nurse or nurses that have contributed to keeping you healthy and well? We bet you do. Today, and this week, is the perfect time to express your gratitude for their hard work and dedication. Nurses have a passion for helping others and a drive to carry them through a hectic, long, and often thankless work day. Ironically, more nurses have been facing health issues themselves due to stress, poor nutrition, and difficult work demands. Nurses can face life, death, joy, and pain head-on during just one shift. It is of the utmost importance that we all take the time to make sure they know how much they are appreciated.

The Lady with the Lamp

The final day of Nurses Week lands on a very important birthday - Florence Nightingale’s to be exact. A true trailblazer for the nursing profession, she was a leading voice in worldwide healthcare reform in the 1800s. During the Crimean War, she and a team of nurses lowered the death count at a British base by two thirds. Working tirelessly to help the soldiers throughout the night, she became known as “the Lady with the Lamp” or “the Angel of Crimea.” She was awarded a hero’s welcome when she returned back to England and was given a grand prize from the Queen.

In 1860 she spent her prize money by founding St.Thomas’s Hospital and the Nightingale Training School for Nurses in London. Nightingale furthered her work in healthcare reform until she passed away in 1910. She was bedridden for the final years of her life, but she continued to take meetings in her bedroom and even published a book on how to safely run and maintain hospitals. Florence Nightingale has been an inspiration to nurses everywhere, so it is only fitting that her birthday is the final day of Nurses Week.

Ways to Say Thank You

Be sure you take the time this week to reach out and say thank you to all of the nurses in your life. If you want to give your nurse a gift for Nurses Week, some great ideas include a meaningful card, a cute water bottle or travel mug, or a lot of caffeine! Dropping off a large quantity of coffee is a great way to show your appreciation and help nurses get through their busy, long day. Healthy and hearty snacks are also a great gift for a hard-working nurse.

Another great way to say thank you to nurses this week is to donate to an organization that provides support for the nursing community. There are countless organizations that seek to help nurses prosper and advance in their field, but here are a few great places to donate:

The American Nursing Foundation

Supporting nursing since 1955, the American Nursing Foundation works to develop innovative care solutions and greater leadership opportunities for nurses. This non-profit also provides materials for nurses on health and emotional wellbeing.

One Nurse at a Time

One Nurse at a Time

Nurses House

Nurses House provides nurses assistance with housing and medical costs if they are seriously ill or disabled. Founded in 1924, Nurses House was originally an actual home on Long Island that was used for nurses to rest in between their long and grueling shifts. For decades, this now nationwide organization has continued to give back to those who give so much.

The team at Med Mart would like to thank nurses everywhere for everything you do. We appreciate your dedication and passion for helping patients and families, and we hope you have a wonderful Nurses Week. Happy Nurses Day!