Creative Expression

For one activity this National Nurses Week, select an item that nurses use every day. It could be a bedpan or a stethoscope. Give nurses the task of decorating the specific item. At the end of the week, have them present their creations and have everyone vote on their favorite. Present the winner with a “Nurses: Helping People One Life At A Time” Deluxe Backpack. Pass out “Nurses: Helping People One Life At A Time” Fabric Key Ring Wallets to all other participants.

Be Prepared

While you’re picking out gifts for your nurses, don’t forget that National Nursing Assistants’ Week is not far behind. Be efficient and order gifts for all nursing staff at once. Include items for CNAs, including “CNA: A Work Of Heart” Deluxe Lunch Bags or Deluxe Key Ring Lights.

Community Outreach

Add “generosity” to your list of goals this National Nurses Week. On top of all the other activities you have planned for the week, hold a canned food drive for a local food bank. Let everyone at your facility donate, but give nursing staff members who donate at least five items “Nursing: Together We Make A Difference” or “Nursing: More Than A Profession, It’s A Calling” T-Shirts. Ask everyone who receives a T-Shirt to wear it the last day of the drive. Gather those with the shirts and have them pose with the pile of food that was donated. You can put the picture in your facility’s newsletter or in the local paper.

Gimme Five!

Call several “emergency” meetings during National Nurses Week. Choose a time when there’s a lull in work, and announce that all nurses or nursing assistants meet in a conference room or common area of the facility. Be on hand when they get there and have other employees join you as well. Stand in a line and, as each nurse walks in, have each person give him or her a high five. At the end of the line, have a gift, such as a “Great Staff, Great Team” Tumbler or “Great Staff, Great Team” Deluxe Pen And Metal Case Gift Set ready for each special nurse or nursing assistant.

Appreciation They Can See

Get residents and patients involved in National Nurses Week. Ask those who are willing and able to wear “Nurses: Helping People One Life At A Time” Buttons each day of the week. At the end of the week, hold a reception complete with food and beverages. Invite nurses and residents or patients to attend. Decorate the area with “Nurses: Helping People One Person At A Time” Nurses Week Posters. At the event, give a short speech and allow others to share their thoughts as well.

Learn From Experience

Nursing is both a rewarding and challenging career. Discover and share some tricks of the trade about getting through a difficult day. Several weeks prior to National Nurses Week, gather your seasoned nurses and ask them to write down ways they cope with workplace stress. Compile the list of tips and, during nurses week, pass them out to rookie nurses along with Nurse’s Survival Kits. Give nurses who submitted tips Ceramic Mug With Spoons.

Mix Them Up

Increase communication between nurses and nursing assistants at a special dinner during National Nurses Week. Ensure that RNs and NAs intermingle by assigning them seats. Do this by tying “Nurses: Helping People One Life At A Time” Heart-Shaped 18” Foil Celebration Balloons to every other chair. Then attach “Nursing Assistants: Caring, Compassionate, Committed” Heart-Shaped 18” Foil Celebration Balloons to the chairs that are left. Ask employees to sit in seats that match their job title.