MGH Recognizes Nursing Week
Nursing Week – A Short History
In 1971, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) designated May 12 – Florence Nightingale’s birthday – as International Nurses Day. In 1985, in recognition of the dedication and achievements of the nursing profession, the Canadian minister of health proclaimed the second week of May as National Nursing Week in Canada.
Nightingale is best known around the world as the “Lady with the Lamp” who nursed British soldiers during the Crimean War and turned nursing into a profession. But she was also much more than that.
She was an activist, social theorist and author who’s advocacy to improve health and sanitation for British Army soldiers, and writings on hospital planning and organization laid the foundation for nursing’s emphasis on social determinants of health today. Nightingale published more than 200 books, reports and pamphlets.
Nursing Week gives nurses across the world the chance to celebrate the work they do to keep Nightingale’s work alive by advocating for policies that keep people healthy, and care for them when they’re ill.
Nursing at MGH
When the town of Manitouwadge was in its infancy, the delivery of health care in that early mining camp was the responsibility of one woman – a RPN who came to assist a doctor, but was soon left to care for the growing community on her own. Jean (Kittner) Kavaliauskas stayed to endure the hardships and rose to the challenges of filling in for many non-existent health care workers. Her selfless dedication to her work and her patients, her strength of character and her endearing warmth made her a legend. To recognize her selfless dedication, the Hospital named an award in her name to acknowledge those who followed in her footstep.
Today, Jean would be astounded at what a nurse is expected to do. New skills, technology, best practices and most of all complex equipment has changed the role of nurses around the world. One thing that Jean would recognize in the nurses of today is the same care and compassion she exhibited all those years ago when she blazed that trail for all who followed after her. This is Nursing week and, the Manitouwadge General Hospital recognizes all the nurses who continue to deliver care to the sick and injured in our community. They are there 24/7, 365 days of the year and because it is just expected they be there in our time of need, it should not be taken for granted.
For their service and dedication, we say Thank You.
Jocelyn Bourgoin, C.E.O.
Manitouwadge General Hospital
