DHH Celebrates National Nursing Week Across Louisiana May 6-12

Recognition Coincides with Public Servant Appreciation Week

Wednesday, May 9, 2012  |  Contact: DHH Bureau of Media & Communications; (225) 342-7913

BATON ROUGE - DHH is offering special recognition to its nursing staff during National Nurses Week, May 6-12, a week set aside to honor all of America's 3.1 million registered nurses, including the more than 54,000 nurses in Louisiana.

National Nursing Week is the time of year designated to recognize and celebrate these professionals. It is a time to highlight the work nurses do every day to save lives and help people achieve better heath. National Nurses Week also coincides with Public Servant Recognition Week, May 6-11, which recognizes those who work for government and public service agencies. 

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals alone employs nearly 1,100 nurses dedicated to upholding the department's mission of protecting and promoting the public's health.

The nurses at DHH provide childhood immunizations in parish health units throughout the state and offer words of comfort to patients in behavioral health facilities. They support people with developmental disabilities so they can remain in their homes, and work with individuals and families to prevent and properly treat chronic illnesses. Nurses are an integral part of Louisiana's health care system.

"This week is the perfect opportunity to recognize our dedicated nursing staff," said DHH Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein.  "Louisiana owes a debt of gratitude to our nurses for the front-line care they provide some of our most vulnerable populations. Every day, DHH nurses offer encouragement, empowerment and the tools to help individuals own their own health." 

Nurses at DHH not only provide direct patient care but serve as policymakers and program managers, utilizing their patient care training and experience to improve health care delivery and allow the department to better serve the state's residents.

Media interested in doing profiles on individual DHH nursing staff should contact the Bureau of Media and Communications. To learn more about the various nursing services the department offers, visit www.dhh.louisiana.gov.

For more information about the history of National Nurses Week, visit the American Nurses Association at http://nursingworld.org/NationalNursesWeek.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state citizens. To learn more about DHH, visit http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov. For up-to-date health information, news and emergency updates, follow DHH's blog, Twitter account and Facebook.

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