Dear Editor:

The week of May 6 marks National Nurses Week. This year the American Nurses Association has declared the theme of Nurses Week as “Ethical Practice. Quality Care.”

At LincolnHealth this theme is especially fitting. With over 330 registered nurses and 200 certified nurses aids the values and commitment to their profession are evident in all their practice settings: hospital, long-term care, skilled care, home health and hospice, assisted living and in our physician practices.

Their unwavering commitment to quality has made headlines recently by the awards and accolades they receive from those who set the standards in healthcare: Leap Frog, VHA and Consumer Reports. Ultimately, the true confirmation comes from the responses of the patients and families whose lives have been touched by our nurses.

I know I speak for all our nurses and nurses aids when I state what a privilege it is to care for our patients and community members. We are grateful for the opportunity.

For the second year in a row, the Hospital Nursing Council in collaboration with office practices, pharmacy and Emergency Medical Services is sponsoring “We Care Day” to be held Monday, May 11 from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Boothbay Region and CLC YMCAs. We invite you to stop in and receive health information, have your blood pressure checked, discuss medication with a pharmacist, learn about our paramedicine program and/or find a primary care physician. Or, if you would like, we invite you to just stop in and say hello.

Thank you for entrusting your local nursing professionals to be stakeholders in your most joyous and vulnerable life experiences.

Happy Nurses Week!

Christine Anderson

VP Patient Care Services

Chief Nursing Officer

LincolnHealth