Simple and Effective Ways to Show a Nurse Appreciation

Let’s be completely open and honest. Nurses Appreciation Week is one week, out of 52 weeks, we are reminded to stop and show our appreciation. However, nurses and our frontline heroes deserve appreciation 365 days out of the year. These rock stars help us at our most vulnerable. They faced a pandemic and kept on persevering. We will all forever be in their debt. If you did not know, according to the American Nurses Association (ANA) , National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, which happens to be Florence Nightingale's birthday. Dating back to 1974, the permanence of these dates, year after year, helps to position us non-nurses to get amped to thank a nurse we know. As SkillGigs gets ready to shower our nurses on assignments with gifts and praise, we wanted to quickly remind everyone simple ways you too, can show your appreciation.??

• Say thank you: One of the simplest ways to show appreciation is by saying thank you. A heartfelt 'thank you' can go a long way in making a nurse feel valued and appreciated. And by saying “thank you,” we mean saying it from your gut and your heart at the same time. Make sure that that nurse(s) in your life knows you are genuine.?

• Write a note: In an increasingly digital world, it’s often found that a handwritten note or card is another great way to show appreciation. Why not to a nurse? If you have an upcoming appointment, a friend, neighbor, or a family member you could write a note too, it be a really thought thing to do. It shows that you took the time to express your gratitude and can make a nurse's day — if not for longer.?

• Provide positive feedback: If a nurse has provided exceptional care, make sure to provide positive feedback to their supervisor where applicable. This can help recognize their hard work and dedication. We rarely go out of our way to share positive news. Therefore, if you don’t have an upcoming appointment during Nurses Week 2023, then consider writing a review from a past appointment via the facilities website, Google listing, or social media. ?

• Gifts of appreciation: Small gifts like chocolates, flowers or a gift card [think Starbucks, aka, caffeine] can be thoughtful tokens of appreciation for a nurse. SkillGigs takes months to plan the sort of gifts we know our nurses will enjoy. We focus on items that they can use over and over again but we have not met a nurse yet that won’t say no to a sweet treat!?

• Treat them to something special: Consider treating a nurse to a special meal, massage or another activity that they may enjoy. During the pandemic, local neighborhoods near hospitals would rally in sending whole lunches to a specific nurse’s unit as it was hard for those professionals to come and go. Why not try something like that if you don’t have a nurse directly in your life??

• Advocate for nurses: Lastly, but most importantly, is advocating for nurses in your community. This can also be a powerful way to show appreciation. Quick ways to advocate would be to speak up and support initiatives that improve working conditions for nurses and promote recognition for the important role they play in healthcare. This advocacy along with supporting nursing education. Encourage others to support nursing education by volunteering at nursing schools or donating to nursing programs.?

Overall, showing appreciation is a simple yet powerful way to recognize the hard work and dedication of nurses who have gone above and beyond in their caregiving. Happy Nurses Week 2023 to all of our SkillGigsters and the broader healthcare community. And please know, you make a difference.??