Pandemic cancels some National Nurses Week events, celebration takes new forms

The coronavirus pandemic and related social distancing rules have prompted Western Pennsylvania hospitals to cancel a slew of activities scheduled to begin this week to recognize nurses.

Plans are still in the works, however, to celebrate the region’s thousands of nurses working on the front lines, hospital officials say.

“This year, in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic, we are reminded just how heroic and selfless our nurses are, and we could not be more pleased to honor them,” AHN spokeswoman Candace Herrington said. “While we will not be able to do so this year with the many fun, in-person celebration events that have traditionally taken place at our hospitals, we look forward to recognizing our nurses in different ways.”

For years, hospitals around the region and the country have dedicated a specific set of seven days to celebrating nurses.

National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6 and ends May 12 — the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the British woman hailed for pioneering modern nursing. Nightingale died at age 90 in 1910.

With Western Pennsylvania’s stay-at-home order still in place, this year’s celebrations are taking on new forms.

Executive nursing leaders at Allegheny Health Network — which employs more than 5,000 nurses — will be making hospital rounds to personally thank nurses and provide them snacks during all shifts, Herrington said.

Every nurse will get a pair of compression socks “as a small token of our appreciation,” Herrington said.

Nurses also will be celebrated via a social media campaign and billboards in the Pittsburgh and Erie regions.

“Given that the World Health Organization declared 2020 the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, in honor of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale,” Excela Health spokeswoman Robin Jennings said, “we will be celebrating in some fashion throughout the year as circumstances allow.”

Excela Health’s nursing division typically holds an off-site awards ceremony with a guest speaker, but the pandemic canceled that.

“However, the awards recognitions will continue in a virtual fashion,” Jennings said.

Throughout May, nurses will be getting weekly updates from Chief Nursing Officer Dr. Helen K. Burns, along with new data, virtual tools and videos expressing gratitude.

“As we kick-off National Nurses Month, we want to recognize you and your work and extend appreciation to you,” a recent message sent to nurse employees said. “The role you play every day, and more so during this pandemic, assures patient care and individual needs are met. This is crucial not only for patients and their loved ones but for the entire Excela team. These are trying times and your dedication to our patients does not go unnoticed.

“Thank you for your patience, professionalism, hard work, and commitment to excellent nursing care. We are stronger because of you.”

UPMC spokeswoman Courtney Caprara said its hospitals will celebrate their nurses with a variety of virtual events, including award ceremonies and poster presentations. Some in-person events have been postponed and others have been moved to locations that allow for social distancing.

Staff will use #NurseHeroes to share their stories online.