By Barb Brady
MNA Communications Specialist
Celebrations throughout the state, a proclamation by the governor, standing ovations in the Minnesota Legislature, and events around the world: people everywhere took a moment to recognize the wonderful nursing profession.
“Registered nurses strive to meet the different and emerging needs of Minnesotans in a wide range of settings, including large medical centers, local hospitals, outpatient clinics, psychiatric centers, nursing homes, veterans homes, addiction treatment centers, correctional facilities, medical rehab facilities, homes for the developmentally disabled, adolescent residential and secure facilities, community facilities, schools, and private offices,” according to a proclamation from Governor Mark Dayton declaring May 6-12 Minnesota Nurses Week. “The cost-effective and high-quality healthcare services provided by registered nurses continues to be an important component of Minnesota’s healthcare delivery system and more qualified registered nurses will be needed to meet the renewed emphasis on primary and preventive healthcare and the increasingly complex needs of consumers.”
Members of both houses of the Minnesota Legislature gave standing ovations and applauded nurses’ efforts as nurse legislators read the governor’s proclamation. The Senate video is here at the 1:15:40 mark. The Minnesota House video is at the 12:00 mark.
MNA nurses held Nurses Week events including food, prizes, drawings, and lots of solidarity to celebrate the profession in about 40 locations throughout Minnesota.
In countries around the world, Global Nurses United, the international federation of nurses’ unions, took actions to ensure that all patients have access to healthcare services and medicines, and addressed healthcare inequity and social justice concerns.
“As healthcare becomes increasingly corporate, nurses’ role in standing up for patients becomes more critical,” MNA President Mary Turner told members in an email thanking them for their dedication and caring all year long. “We are the ones at the bedside and we know what patients need. We know that the patient-nurse relationship is at the very core of our healthcare system. It’s a sacred bond that patients depend on and that nurses fight to preserve.”