Hospitals and other healthcare facilities nationwide celebrated National Nurses Week from May 6-12 by recognizing the valuable contributions of nurses. Here is a look at how some facilities in the DC/Maryland/Virginia region marked the week.

The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore: Each May 12, Johns Hopkins asks as many nurses as possible at the hospital to wear white uniforms in honor of Florence Nightingale.

Nurses from numerous units and shifts took part in this year’s event.

Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, D.C.: Interim CNO Molly Billingsley, RN, EdD, NEA-BC, interim CNO, and the nurse recruitment and retention team planned several events. On May 9, nurses received sweatshirt-style blankets, along with an Italian meal for night-shift nurses. The next day, Billingsley hosted a nurse practitioner breakfast.

Photo courtesy of Ronald Wardrope
Nurses such as this group from the night shift at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore celebrated Florence Nightingale’s birthday May 12 by dressing in all white.

On May 11, Billingsley expressed her appreciation for staff at the Nursing Leadership Luncheon. A PI and Research Poster Session took place May 12. Staff members also were treated to back massages. The 2011 Nurses Award Ceremony on May 13 featured recognition of more than 60 nurses. The hospital’s top award, Magnet Nurse of the Year, was presented to NICU nurse Jeanne Rorke, RN, BSN, MSN, NNP.

Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States: In special recognition of Nurses Week 2011, Kaiser Permanente offered nurses the opportunity to talk with Fidelindo Lim, RN, MA, author of “Why Florence Nightingale Still Matters,” published in the November edition of Nursing 2010.

Noemi Woodward, RN

Lim’s article outlines the similarities between issues discussed by Nightingale in her book, “Notes on Nursing: What It Is and What It Is Not,” and today’s healthcare issues. Kaiser Permanente nurses received a copy of Nightingale’s book.

Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore: Mercy Medical Center celebrated the Sisters of Mercy Nursing Awards on May 12. Sixty-one nurses demonstrating leadership, the vision of nursing and compassionate care were nominated by their peers in three award categories. The winners were Christine Wagner, RN, BSN (Nursing Leadership Award); Cindy Voith, RN, MSN (Nursing Visionary Award); and Kathleen Spadaro, RN, BSN (Compassionate Caregiver Award).

Sharon Muller, RN

Carroll Hospital Center, Westminster, Md.: OR nurse Sharon Muller, RN, was named 2011 Nurse of the Year during Carroll’s annual Best of the Best Awards Banquet on May 11. A nurse at Carroll for nearly 44 years, Muller was chosen from nearly 70 nominees.

The Fairfax County (Va.) Board of Supervisors: On April 26, the board proclaimed May 6-12 as Nurses Week in the county. Charlene Douglas, RN, PhD, associate professor of nursing and coordinator for Community Health Nursing at George Mason University, accepted the proclamation on behalf of the more than 6,000 nurses in the Fairfax community.

At left, Jeanne Rorke, RN, is honored as Georgetown University Hospital’s Magnet Nurse of the Year by Interim CNO Molly Billingsley, RN.

Prince George’s Hospital Center, Cheverly, Md.: OR nurse Noemi Woodward, RN, BSN, CNOR, won Nurse of the Year during the hospital center’s Nurses Week 2011 Awards Celebration.

Other nominees, who earned Departmental Nurse of the Year honors, were Gary Jackson, RN, BSN, ED; Bhagirathi Gope, RN, BSN, heart center; Maria Clifton, RN, AD, ICU; Angela Kuti-Vinusa, RN, BSN, cath lab/transcare; Rita Jensen, RN, PACU; Rena Pogue, RN, BS, short stay; Jane Plantz, RN, BSN, E600; Irudaya Premraj, RNC, BSN, E700; Rasheda Smith, RN, BSN, E800; Iona Williams, RN, AD, E900; Rosslyn Mullen, RN, AD, labor and delivery; Rosalyn Yalung, RN, NICU; and Andrea Loudermilk, RN, BSN, K2-K3-Nsy.

Linda Hudson, RN

Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System: A policy and procedure scavenger hunt, evidence-based poster presentation, nursing journal club, nursing grand rounds and recognition of healthcare professionals marked the array of activities.

Col. Ellen Forster, deputy commander for nursing at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., delivered a keynote address during the week of celebration.

Karen Cervino, CNS

Linda Hudson, RN, received the Veterans Affairs Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Nursing and Veterans Affairs Nurse of the Year awards.

Karen Cervino, CNS, received the Veterans Affairs Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Nursing in Expanded Role.