Kelley Cowing, director of nursing at St. Andrews Retirement Village, surprised the nurses and nurses’ aides who work at the Boothbay Harbor facility on National Nurses Day by posting homemade signs on the lawn near the Village Inn and Gregory Wing.

Laminated posters with each employee’s name and a red heart were attached to a wooden post, and to the left,  a big poster with a “THANK YOU!” with a red heart greeted the employees as they came to work on Wednesday, May 6. An additional sign was posted outside the Gregory Wing entrance at the Village.

According to nationaldaycalendar.com, “National Nurses Day is observed annually on May 6. It is a day to raise awareness of all nurse contributions and commitments and acknowledge the vital role nurses play in society. It is also the first day of National Nurses Week and is sometimes known as National RN Recognition Day. 

“National Nurses Week ends on May 12, which is the birthday of Florence Nightingale (May 12, 1820 – August 13, 1910). Nightingale was a celebrated English social reformer, statistician and the founder of modern nursing. She became well-known while taking care of the wounded soldiers during the Crimean War. Nightingale was dubbed ‘The Lady with the Lamp,’ because of her habit of making rounds at night.”

Cowing’s gesture was especially appreciated during these challenging days of the coronavirus pandemic.