Hello All,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is hard to believe that January is almost over! Time truly does fly (whether you are having fun or not – but I hope you are having fun!). I wanted to be sure that in the first month of this new year that I sent my congratulations and thanks to all nurses across the world! It s going to be an exciting year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why? First because World Health Assembly, the governing body of the World Health Organization (WHO), has declared 2020 the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife. The Assembly further noted that this designation was to “advance nurses’ vital position in transforming healthcare around the world.” One of the most trusted and respected professions is getting the honor it so richly deserves! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This incredible designation comes in the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth on May 12, 1820. Florence is the founder of modern nursing, a social reformer, a statistician and, dare I say, the very first patient advocate. She was born in Florence, Italy – and was named for the city of her birth. (FYI – her sister Frances Parthenope was also named after her birthplace Parthenope, a Greek settlement that is now part of Naples, Italy.) Florence was ahead of her time. She educated herself in both the art and science of nursing, in the face of societal criticism and in an environment that was truly restrictive for women. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Florence recognized that the environment made a difference in care. She improved the sanitary living conditions and hygiene for soldiers and patients. She saved lives, both on the battlefield and off. It was during the Crimean War that she was bestowed the name the “Lady of the Lamp” by soldiers she rounded on at night by lamplight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Florence left all of us so much knowledge and so many words of wisdom. There are several of her quotes that I have held dear throughout my nursing career, both as a staff nurse and as a nursing leader:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Nursing is a progressive art such that to stand still is to go backwards.” <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n “Let us never consider ourselves finished nursing…..we must be learning all of our lives.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n “Let whoever is in charge keep this simple question in her head: not how can I do this right thing myself, but how can I provide for this right thing to be always done?” <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n How fitting also that we start 2020 with the announcement from Gallup that once again – for the 18th year in a row <\/strong>– that nurses TOP the Gallup’s Ethics Survey as the most trusted profession! in fact, 85% (more than 4 in 5 Americans) rated the honesty and ethical standards of nurses as high or very high. I believe that is because our patients, their families and the communities we serve recognize the core of nursing – patient advocacy, care and compassion. They recognize that from cradle to grave – from home to hospital, post-acute care back to home – from school to workplace – nurses are there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For those of you who read this blog who are nurses – THANK YOU! Thank you for choosing this profession, for giving of your talents and treasures, for making a difference in a million different ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Enjoy this recognition – it is richly deserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Phyl<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hello All, It is hard to believe that January is almost over! Time truly does fly (whether you are having fun or not – but I hope you are having fun!). I wanted to be sure that in the first month of this new year that I sent my congratulations and thanks to all nurses across the world! It s going to be an exciting year. Why? First because World Health Assembly, the governing body of the World Health Organization (WHO), has declared 2020 the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife. The Assembly further noted that this designation was to “advance nurses’ vital position in transforming healthcare around the world.” One of the most trusted and respected professions is getting the honor it so richly deserves! This incredible designation comes in the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth on May 12, 1820. Florence is the founder of modern nursing, a social reformer, a statistician and, dare I say, the very first patient advocate. She was born in Florence, Italy – and was named for the city of her birth. (FYI – her sister Frances Parthenope was also named after her birthplace Parthenope, a Greek settlement that is now part of Naples, Italy.) Florence was ahead of her time. She educated herself in both the art and science of nursing, in the face of societal criticism and in an environment that was truly restrictive for women. Florence recognized that the environment made a difference in care. She improved the sanitary living conditions and hygiene for soldiers and patients. She saved lives, both on the battlefield and off. It was during the Crimean War that she was bestowed the name the “Lady of the Lamp” by soldiers she rounded on at night by lamplight. Florence left all of us so much knowledge and so many words of wisdom. There are several of her quotes that I have held dear throughout my nursing career, both as a staff nurse and as a nursing leader: “Nursing is a progressive art such that to stand still is to go backwards.” “Let us never consider ourselves finished nursing…..we must be learning all of our lives.” “Let whoever is in charge keep this simple question in her head: not how can I do this right thing myself, but how can I provide for this right thing to be always done?” How fitting also that we start 2020 with the announcement from Gallup that once again – for the 18th year in a row – that nurses TOP the Gallup’s Ethics Survey as the most trusted profession! in fact, 85% (more than 4 in 5 Americans) rated the honesty and ethical standards of nurses as high or very high. I believe that is because our patients, their families and the communities we serve recognize the core of nursing – patient advocacy, care and compassion. They recognize that from cradle to grave – from home to hospital, post-acute care back to home – from school to workplace – nurses are there. For those of you who read this blog who are nurses – THANK YOU! Thank you for choosing this profession, for giving of your talents and treasures, for making a difference in a million different ways. Enjoy this recognition – it is richly deserved. Phyl<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-546","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n