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Nurse's and medical technician's week celebrated

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Taylor Humphries
  • 66th Medical Squadron
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  In observance of National Nurses Week 2014, Air Force Medical Service and the 66th Medical Squadron will observe Nurse and Medical Technician Appreciation Week scheduled May 5 through 9. The theme of this year's nurse's week is "Nurses and Technicians: Leading the Way."

In recognition of this theme, officials at the clinic will honor nurses and medical technicians who have demonstrated their dedication, commitment and tireless efforts to their profession, 365 days a year.

For the past 13 years, Gallup's annual survey of the American public has voted nursing as the most ethical and honest profession in the country.

"All nurses are leaders, whether they are in direct patient care, administrative roles or meeting consumers' needs in new roles such as care coordinators or wellness coaches," said Karen A. Daley, American Nurses Association president, PhD, RN.

She went on to acknowledge nurses' vast contributions and how they are leading the way in improving health care and ultimately, the health of the nation.

"As national and military medicine evolves, nursing staff is more crucial than ever, leading efforts to expand primary care at community-based clinics and deliver more efficient and cost-effective care as members of collaborative health care teams," said Lt. Col. Theresa Murphy, MDS health care integrator. "Nursing staff also help patients secure resources, obtain seamless comprehensive care and develop healthy lifestyle practices."

According to the ANA website, nursing is among the fastest growing occupations in the United States. The federal government projects more than one million new nurses will be needed by 2022 to fill new jobs, to replace nurses who leave the profession and to address the projected Medicare enrollment increase of 50 percent by 2025.

National Nurses Week begins on National Nurses Day, May 6 and culminates May 12 on Florence Nightingale's birthday, widely considered the founder of modern nursing.

"As members of the Hanscom community walk through the halls of the 66th Medical Squadron or any off-base medical facilities, please take a moment to congratulate and thank the hundreds of dedicated nurses and medical technicians," said Murphy.