National Nurses Week Highlights Importance of Nurses

The National Nurses Week highlights the work of nurses all over the country, including the Upper Cumberland.

That according to Interim Dean of Nursing at Tennessee Tech Kim Hannah.

“National Nurses Week is a time for everyone, individuals, employers, other healthcare professionals, and community leaders to recognize the vast contributions and positive impact of America’s nurses. Each year the celebration ends on May 12 which is Florence Nightingale’s birthday.”

Historians credit Florence Nightingale with the creation of modern nursing during the Crimean War.

Hannah said the week doesn’t just focus on the traditional vision of a nurse.

“It is the week where we can celebrate nurses who are at the bedside 24/7. Also, nurses that are faculty, who teach these students,” Hannah said. “And those who are also politically astute. So it is an opportunity for us to celebrate nurses.”

Hannah said The Whinston-Hester School of Nursing participated in the week by wishing nurses the best.

“It’s just been an event that we put out to our faculty and we are so proud of our students,” Hannah said. “And we just want everyone to know that we are so proud of our alumni as well that are our in our community and the state and nation.”

Hannah said the program at Tennessee Tech began with the traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Over the years, the program grew with additional degrees.

“So we are not only a baccalaureate level program, but we also have graduate programs as well,” Hannah said. “We graduate about 110 to 120 each year in our undergraduate program and followed suit with probably 20 or 30 in our master’s program.”

Tennessee Tech also began offering a Ph.D. in Nursing Supervision last year.

“So we are excited. We have lots of opportunities for students,” Hannah said. “And we are excited about serving the Upper Cumberland in all different kinds of ways. So it has grown tremendously.”

National Nurses Week began on Monday, May 6 and end on Sunday, May 12.