Photo: Canadian Nurses Association

By Shane Clausing

national nursing week

National Nursing Week kicks off in Canada

May 11, 2020 | 5:30 AM

Monday marks the start of National Nursing Week in Canada.

The annual celebration is held in the second week of May and is being celebrated across the country from May 11-17.

The week, which began in 1971, is intended to draw attention to nurses in our health care system, to recognize their hard work they do year-round.

“We try to make sure that we show all of our nurses appreciation and give back to the nurses. A lot of the locals give out gifts and items to the nurses and there is a committee in town where they give awards,” explained Kerrie Mealey, Local 37 President of the United Nurses of Alberta.

However, with COVID-19 fresh in everyone’s minds right now, nurses aren’t exactly asking for gifts or awards this year. While nurses aren’t saying no to gift offers from the public, most are asking people to continue to stay home and social distance.

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Mealey says staying home is one of the best gifts you can give nurses to help prevent the spread of the virus.

“I think everyone is doing their best staying home and keeping your distance and I think that’s the best thing to do for nurses,” said Mealey.

With social distancing being practiced this year, the Canadian Nurses Association is asking the public to celebrate differently.

You can still donate gift cards to hospitals by donating to the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation.

Those celebrating are also encouraged to celebrate the week virtually on social media using the hashtags #CNA2020, #IND2020, #Nurses2020, #NationalNursingWeek, #SupportNursesandMidwives, #YearoftheNurseandMidwife and #YearoftheNurse.

You are also encouraged to write thank-you notes as a sign of appreciation or by putting posters in prominent places for all that nursing staffs do on a daily basis. The CNA says that these gestures are rare and the act of recognition can make a profound difference in employee morale.

Interestingly enough with all that’s going on related to COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization, the year 2020 is known as the year of the nurse, as it is the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, who is known as founder of modern nursing.