May 17, 2002

Simply the best: MGH recognizes nurses

There were no guest speakers, Power Point presentations or slide shows. Instead, there were poignant clips from the television show "The West Wing," a mock television game show resembling "The Family Feud" and a rendition of the rock song "Simply the Best" by singer Tina Turner. This out-of-the-ordinary event was "MGH Nursing: The Journey of a Lifetime," held May 9 in the O'Keeffe auditorium to honor MGH nurses during Nurse Recognition Week, May 5 to 12.

Jeanette Ives Erickson, RN, MS, senior vice president for Patient Care Services and chief nurse, offered inspiration and praise for MGH nurses with a special emphasis on teamwork.

Ives Erickson also recognized the outstanding work the MGH nursing staff demonstrated during the aftermath of Sept. 11, and what that meant to both the MGH community and the country. "Since those tragic events, the world has changed, thus, nursing has changed," she said. "About 1,300 nurses apply to the MGH every year. They know what we know, that this is a pinnacle where aspirations are achieved."

Ives Erickson's presentation then took on a lighter tone as she played host to the MGH version of "Family Feud" with nursing staff members from the Emergency Department and the PACU making up the two "families." The teams took turns at the podium answering general nursing questions and, depending on their answers, won either the praise or playful ridicule of their colleagues.

Ives Erickson ended with a provocative question that seemed to sum up the ongoing theme of the week, "What is the next thing that will test the MGH, that will press us harder and push us further?"

Nurse Recognition Week at a glance

Other activities for Nurse Recognition Week included a breakfast reception for staff nurses in the Trustees Room and a variety of presentations, such as "The Power of Nurses" with keynote speaker, Howard K. Koh, MD, MPH, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. He covered a myriad of topics such as the responsibility of public health workers, the need for compassionate leaders and the search for creative ways to educate patients in the health care setting. He ended the seminar with a serenade of "Wind Beneath My Wings" to all the nurses in the audience.

Nursing Research Day offered several scientific sessions focusing on such topics as improving pain management, helping parents deal with chronically ill children and improving patient care. The final highlight of the week was a dinner reception at the Museum of Science, May 10, with a special Omni Theater presentation.