May 6th is National Nurses Day, and the American Nurses Association has declared 2015 as the Year of Ethics to recognize ethics as an essential component of everyday nursing practice across the continuum of nursing services. Keeping with this focus, the theme for National Nurses Week (May 6-12) is “Ethical Practice. Quality Care.”

Nurses are recognized by the public for upholding high ethical standards and are highly trusted as a result.an annual Gallup survey shows that the public has ranked nursing as the top profession for honesty and ethical standards for 13 straight years. We feel privileged and proud to lead a great group of quality nurses at University Healthcare Jefferson Medical Center.

The nursing team at Jefferson Medical Center helps to ensure that ethics and human rights that affect the quality of patient care and health outcomes are addressed every day for our patients. Some examples of issues they address with our patients and their families are: serious advanced illness, end of life care, protecting and promoting human worth, dignity, and human rights.

Our nurses provide education, guidance and resources to individuals and/or families managing chronic conditions or an illness. RN’s help them understand discharge and care plans, medications regimens, appointment follow-ups, referrals, and equipment needs. Our nurses are working hard to achieve national quality standards, goals of better care, affordable care and healthy people and populations.

Activities to celebrate National Nurses Week are planned for our nurses at Jefferson Medical Center. We want to personally proclaim and thank all the nurses for the ethical work and quality care they provide every day to the patients of our community.

Sincerely,

Linda Blanc, RN, BSN

Administrative Director of Nursing

Nursing Leadership Team

Jefferson Medical Center