Whidbey General Hospital joined the nation in recognizing nurses during National Nurses Week, which is celebrated annually during the week of May 6.

May 6 has been designated National Nurses Day to honor the nation’s nurses for their tireless commitment 365 days a year. The celebration of nurses and the nursing profession continued through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who was the founder of modern nursing.

This tradition was formalized in 1982 through a joint resolution of the United States Congress.

The hospital celebrated its nurses with a variety of activities including displays of nursing history, educational activities, shared meals, massages provided by the Whidbey Massage Guild, flowers and a small gift to each nurse as an expression of respect and gratitude for their service.

Dr. Patricia Connell PhD, RN led the blessing of the hands and Renee Yanke ARNP, MN, ACON presented the program Healing Conversations at the End of Life.

There are about 3.1 million licensed registered nurses in America with more than 200 nurses serving the Whidbey Island community.

Nursing is the most trusted profession in the country. For the seventh straight year, nurses enjoy top public accolades in Gallup’s annual Honesty and Ethics of Professions survey. Eighty-four percent of Americans call their honesty and ethical standards either “high” or “very high,” according to Linda Gipson PhD RN, the hospital’s new chief nurse executive.

Nurses at Whidbey General serve in a broad range of practice settings across the continuum of care: clinics, physicians’ offices, emergency services, operating room, critical care, obstetrical services, home care, hospice and rehabilitation.

Nurse specialists serve the Whidbey community in quality management, infection prevention, oncology and palliative care, advanced practice nursing and nurse anesthesia, wound care, diabetic education, care coordination and as educators.

Through Gipson’s leadership and direction, the nursing division has initiated an ambitious strategic plan called Operation Nightingale,  designed to differentiate Whidbey General on the basis of exceptional patient centered nursing care.

“The care of the patients who entrust themselves to our care is a privilege and a gift. As nurses we are permitted to be a part of a family’s most memorable and intimate events. Whether we help bring a new life into the world, teach a new diabetic to manage the condition, or support a grandmother leaving this world in comfort and dignity, nurses have a unique place in the health care system. It requires tremendous skill, endless compassion and an unwavering commitment to placing our patients’ needs above all else. The nurses at Whidbey General share that commitment,” Gipson said.

The nursing team at Whidbey General is grateful for the generosity of sponsors and the Whidbey General Foundation which contributed to making this week meaningful, Gipson said.