May Events Celebrate Nursing at BWH

BWH celebrated its first-class nursing staff throughout the month with a whirlwind of activities and ceremonies, some that had the honorees moved to tears and some that had them up to their elbows in ice cream.

Stepping outside traditional responsibilities and dress code, nurse administrators donned hairnets and aprons to dole out scoops of ice cream for many hungry hospital employees during the informal ice cream social in the Cafeteria.

Before it was overtaken with throngs of employees looking to satisfy a sweet tooth, Pod B was elegantly decorated in white tablecloths and floral centerpieces for the Clinical Colleague Breakfast. Clinical colleagues were recognized for their important roles in helping new nurses to adjust to the hospital, develop their skills and excel at patient care. The colleagues received pins, an elaborate breakfast spread and time to enjoy each other's company.

For several days, anyone passing through the 75 Francis St. lobby found tangible evidence of BWH nurses' dedication through a collection of informative displays designed by nurses in a range of departments. The displays featured presentations, articles and projects completed by nurses in BWH's various specialties.

At the Medical Housestaff Nursing Awards, Dr. Cheryl Clark shared the following quote that she felt captured the spirit of nursing before presenting Ludwine Jean-Jacques, RN with an award for mentorship:

“Nurses have the unique opportunity to direct the healing experience. They are the bridges between humanity and medical machines. They can say it all by sitting quietly at a bedside and saying nothing. Nurses protect and preserve dignity and the sanctity of life. The very best thing about being a nurse is having the power to start the healing before the treatment ever begins.” ~The Best Thing About Being a Nurse by Deb Tarara, RN, a member of the Iowa State Nursing Association