The Island’s nurses are to mark Nurses’ Day to celebrate the work of the nursing profession throughout history and in modern times. Nurses’ Day falls on 12th May, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth, and this year, as 12th May is a Saturday, nurses throughout the Island will mark the celebration with a schedule of events running from 8th – 11th May 2012.
The theme for this year’s Nurses’ Day is ‘Celebrate Nursing’ and nurses and patients are being invited to share their experiences of nursing care at its best. Memory and Comment Books have been circulated to all wards and departments at Noble’s Hospital, Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital as well as being available those being treated in the community, such as those visited by a District Nurse. The best stories will be put on display so that the public can see them. The Royal College of Nursing has provided Nurses’ Day branded bunting, tea bags, cake toppers, coasters, posters and stickers to help get the celebrations going.
Minister for Health, David Anderson MHK, said: “The 12th May is an important day for nurses and offers the opportunity to celebrate the many achievements made by the profession in the past as well as highlighting plans for the future. I want to take the opportunity to thank all of our nurses on the Island for the dedicated care and commitment they give to patients and their families. I’m sure I speak for many when I say we are proud and very fortunate to have them.”
Noble’s Hospital Dining Room is involved in the celebration, with a ‘Nursing’ themed menu and Nurses’ Day bunting. Hospital nurses are also invited to the Dining Room for ‘5 minutes of wisdom’ on 11th May at 14:30 and 15:30 to share ‘inspiring examples of excellent patient care’. The Director for Community Nursing will be having tea and cakes with nurses and patients at Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital on the 11th May and there will be a session held at Crookall House for other nursing staff who work in the community setting to celebrate and share their experiences of nursing. There will also be a display in Keyll Darree, the nurse education centre, on student nurse training in the Isle of Man.
Afternoon cakes for patients will be served with special Nurses’ Day toppings and ward staff have been encouraged to gather patients in the ward dining room, where possible, for tea and cake. On 10th May, afternoon tea for the patients on Ward 20 at Noble’s Hospital will be served by the Chief Nurse, Bev Critchlow; the Minister for Health, David Anderson MHK; and Department of Health Chief Executive, David Killip.
The Department is also taking the opportunity to launch the Isle of Man’s website for Nursing and Midwifery, which will go live on 11th May. The website has been designed to provide information on nursing and midwifery in the Isle of Man to nursing colleagues on and off the Island, as well as to members of the public. Along with the latest news updates, there’ll also be details of current projects and achievements, an overview of nursing in different sectors, profiles from members of staff, and information about life in the Isle of Man.
Bev Critchlow, the Island’s Chief Nurse, said: “Nurses’ Day and the Nursing and Midwifery website are a wonderful way to celebrate the work our nurses and midwives do each and every day - caring for our patients and their families. I am in contact with nurses and midwives from every sector, from the Hospital to Community and Mental Health to Midwifery, and I never fail to be impressed with their level of care, dedication and professionalism. The Island’s Nurses and Midwives play a pivotal role in the delivery of quality care to our residents and we are proud of what they do.”
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