Life is Not A Dress Rehearsal: Celebrating National Nurses Week

Today is National Nurses Day! It is celebrated annually on May 6 and marks the beginning of National Nurses week, which ends on May 12.  So, what is the significance of May 12?  It is the birthday of Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) who is known as the founder of the nursing profession.  She became known at “The lady with the Lamp” for her habits of making rounds at night. 

National Nurses’ week was first observed in 1954, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Nightingale’s work in the Crimean War. 

As many of our Newwaver’s may know, I have been very blessed to have had a long fulfilling nursing career that has taken many paths in the direct health care arena as well as in other areas with less direct hands-on care to our current work in the CMS world. 

Go ahead and enjoy a good laugh when I say I was given one of those symbolic Nightingale lamps when I graduated from nursing school!  And yes, I had to wear those starchy whites and pesky nursing caps, that at the time were all part of the “appropriate” nursing garb.  I found that pesky cap the other day and remembered all the times I had to remove it to go into the rooms of patients’ in isolation!

On a more serious note, I treasure all the times I was able to give comfort and support to patients and families during some of their most difficult times.  I was always looking for new and improved ways to help the patients and prepare them for their return home.   My true passion was in Oncology nursing which formed my strong belief in living life to its fullest- to make the most of every moment as “Life is not a Dress Rehearsal.”

I am one of several nurses at NewWave – in good nursing camaraderie with Koreen Rayl, SME, Program Delivery and Patty Delafuente, our Senior Director of Data Science.  Thank you, Koreen and Patty, for all you have done and will continue to do for others. 

So for today and the next 6 days, help raise awareness of the critical roles nurses play in our society by telling the nurses you know how much they are appreciated and how much we respect all the work they do to help others. 

Thank you, nurses, for your compassionate care, your sacrifices, and your perseverance especially during these difficult times on the front line!  Please take care and be safe! – Thank you.  

P.S. To my daughter Kelly who is also a nurse, thank you for all you do, I am very proud of you!