Hospital highlights - June 10, 2010

Celebrating National

Nursing Assistant Week

The many faces of caring is how I think of our nursing assistants here at Whitman Hospital. We are very fortunate to have 21 dedicated nursing assistants here that provide great care to our patients each and every day. They work throughout the medical center from the emergency department to the surgical areas as well as the medical-surgical unit. They are key players in the lives of the people in their care, and each nursing assistant is called to create an environment of caring for our patients.

The National Network of Career Nursing Assistants announced the theme for the 33rd annual National Nursing Assistants Week, June 10-17.

This year’s theme is “Handle with Care” with a focus on safe patient handling by all caregivers. We are very privileged to have two of our nursing assistants certified to train staff in safe patient handling which involves moving patients safely with equipment or assistive devices to avoid injury to the patient and staff.

The goal is to decrease worker and resident injuries. Projects and programs planned for the week will provide nursing assistants with valuable tools that can be used in their daily responsibilities to better care for residents while maintaining personal safety.

Those projects and programs include discussion guides and other resources that will be useful during the week and throughout the year, with topics such as listening, respect, encouragement, kind humor, cultural competency, and self development. The first day of National Nursing Assistants Week is designated as National Career Nursing Assistants’ Day to recognize nursing assistants with longevity of service. These individuals have developed a wide repertoire of skills for working with and supporting their peers through routine as well as difficult situations.

Please join us in celebrating National Nursing Assistants week – June 10 through June 17. Our Nursing Assistants provide excellent care and touch lives each and every day throughout the year!

Interested in becoming a nursing assistant? Contact the Whitman County Health Department for their class schedule. You may also contact any of the nursing schools in our area.

Denise Fowler, Chief Clinical Officer

Whitman Hospital and Medical Center