Monday May 11, 2020 marks the start of National Nursing Week in Canada.
The week, which began in 1971, is intended to draw attention to nurses in our health care system, and to recognize their hard work they do year-round.
Gloria Stephens, a former BCHNS member who left BC a few years back and established the Nova Scotia History of Nursing Group, sent the following message to Honourary Member Glennis Zilm and agreed to share it.
A MESSAGE from NURSING HISTORY NOVA SCOTIA SOCIETY: (NHNSS)
As nursing ‘history buffs’, we have studied our forebearers and give thanks and praise for these pioneering nurses who, under difficult situations and struggles, developed our solid foundation on which we so proudly stand today.
The theme for National Nurses Week: ‘A Voice to Lead: Nursing the World to Health’ is so true of the past but in this extreme health crisis of today, the words have a greater impact on the public at large and all nurses within the ‘health team’ must feel so proud, as they should.
Speaking for all members of NHNSS: ‘Hats off’ to those nurses working on the front lines who have demonstrated exceptional courage, commitment, compassion and leadership as they perform their ‘Duty of Care’.
To you, the retired members of NHNSS, you also deserve a bow and thanks for all the many hours and sacrifices that you gave for the benefit of those under you care for which you were responsible for their return to health or the provision that you made for their peaceful and dignified passing.
Quote from Florence Nightingale whose 200 Birthday is May 12: “Nursing is a progressive art in which to stand still is to have gone back. Progress can never end but with a nurse’s life”.
Bless you all and toast yourselves every day this week and always!! Gloria