Desert Care Network Celebrates Nurses Week

PALM SPRINGS, INDIO AND JOSHUA TREE — National Nurses Week takes on a special significance this year in the midst of a worldwide, often deadly, pandemic. Nurses put their lives in jeopardy every single day to care for those infected with coronavirus.

Some themselves have succumbed to the virus. As of May 4, local health departments have reported 6,167 confirmed positive cases in health care workers and 33 deaths statewide, according to the California Department of Public Health.

Against this backdrop, Desert Care Network honors its nurses during National Nurses Week (May 6-12), an annual celebration that recognizes the value of nursing. The theme this year, Compassion|Expertise|Trust, celebrates qualities in nursing that are perhaps more important today than ever before as nurses are serving on the front lines of care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Nursing is one of the most rewarding careers, but also one of the most challenging,” Desert Care Network CEO Michele Finney said in a prepared statement. “During these extraordinary times, we couldn’t be more thankful for all of our nurses and the hard work they put in every day. This celebratory week is about paying tribute to them and the daily impact they have on our patients’ lives.”

National Nurses Week is celebrated annually from May 6, also known as National Nurses Day, through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. The year 2020, Florence’s 200th birthday, has been declared the Year of the Nurse. Like Florence Nightingale, hundreds of thousands of nurses stand on the front lines of a pandemic. Today, as Florence Nightingale did in her time, our nurses’ represent a profession of advocacy and strength and are respected for their compassion and commitment to patient care.

During National Nurses Week, hospitals and other healthcare organizations across the country are encouraged to educate the public about the role nurses play in caring for our community.

Desert Care Network recognizes, acknowledges and trusts the strong commitment, compassion, expertise and care our nurses display in their practice and profession,” said Finney. “Now more than ever, they truly make a difference in the lives of our community.”

To celebrate its nurse heroes this Nurse’s Week, Desert Care Network is encouraging the community to share messages of appreciation.  Please share a few words of support for all of the nurses serving our desert community by calling our special message line at: 760-323-6833.  You can also mail a letter directly to one of our hospitals at the address here: www.DesertCareNetwork.com/location