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Heartwarming Stories of Nurses Who Went Beyond Their Call of Duty


Article and Image Content shared from Readers Digest.

When it comes to kindness, compassion, and caring for others, nurses have us all beat. They work long shifts doing many of the tiny, important tasks that keep us healthy, everything from school nurses who fix booboos with Band-Aids and send kids back to the playground, to nurses in hospitals who perform complicated, life-saving maneuvers on the sickest patients every day. During the coronavirus crisis, nurses are the first line of defense in clinics against the ravages of COVID-19. Many even exceed the already arduous call of duty. These are some of their stories

School nurse provides masks for the community

The pandemic closed schools but didn’t keep elementary school nurse Amber Mehrkens from helping others. She continued to check the temperatures of the childcare students at the school and those of the teachers preparing for distance learning. When she wasn’t in her office, she was home caring for her four children in Mazeppa, Minnesota. During pockets of spare time, Mehrkens began sewing. She created a few hundred masks with the fabric she had on hand, then placed them on her porch for her neighbors to take at no charge. She quickly depleted her supply of fabric and other supplies. After she and a few friends spent several hundred dollars at a craft store, they asked for donations to cover their costs. With help from her children and a few friends, Mehrkens has sewn over 4,000 masks and provided them to the local fire department and area businesses.

What do Nurses Think About Meaningful Recognition?

Article is shared from the the Oregon Center for Nursing. 

Often overlooked by the public, media and policymakers, nurses’ roles and contributions to healthcare have been highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the pandemic shifts into yet another phase, how can we continue to recognize the contributions of Oregon’s nurses?

Recently, as part of the Oregon Center for Nursing’s (OCN) 20th anniversary “Recognize Nursing” campaign, a new nurse, a nurse educator, and nurse leader shared what nurse recognition looks like and their thoughts on recognizing nursing in the future.

How nurses have been recognized

When the virus started overwhelming U.S. hospitals, the public began thanking nurses for their sacrifice, often calling them heroes.

Jennifer Gentry, regional chief nursing officer for Providence Health & Services, noted that public recognition for nurses came in the form of yard signs, posters, food donations, writing campaigns from students, and media statements.

That early recognition was helpful, said Gentry, MSN, RN, NEA-BC. “Nurses are sacrificing their bodies and hearts daily, and the knowledge that their community understood this and wanted to support them meant a lot.”

For others, that recognition was stressful. “Being called a hero paints you into a corner,” said Patty Barfield, an assistant professor at the Oregon Health & Science University School of Nursing on the Eastern Oregon University campus. “You cannot have a bad day. You cannot fail. But nurses are human. At the height of the pandemic, one nurse told me, ‘Don’t call me a hero. Give me some help: boots on the ground.’”

Continue reading this article by visiting “Nurses Share Their Thoughts on Meaningful Recognition“.

 

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March classes start today! Welcome to our new BSN, PN and RN-BSN students.

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Meet Alex – Sumner College Graduate

Alex, congratulations on your graduation! As you’ve embarked on your nursing journey, remember: ‘Nursing is not just a profession, it’s a calling to serve, heal,

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Meet Alexandra – Sumner College RN to BSN Graduate

Alexandra, congratulations on your graduation! As you’ve embarked on your nursing journey, remember: ‘Nursing is not just a profession, it’s a calling to serve, heal,

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Meet Renee – Sumner College Graduate

Renee, congratulations on your graduation! As you’ve embarked on your nursing journey, remember: ‘Nursing is not just a profession, it’s a calling to serve, heal,

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Meet Serena – Sumner College Graduate

Serena congratulations on your graduation! As you’ve embarked on your nursing journey, remember: ‘Nursing is not just a profession, it’s a calling to serve, heal,

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Meet Amanda – Sumner College Graduate

Amanda, congratulations on your graduation! As you’ve embarked on your nursing journey, remember: ‘Nursing is not just a profession, it’s a calling to serve, heal,

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Meet Natalie – Sumner College Graduate

Natalie, congratulations on your graduation! As you’ve embarked on your nursing journey, remember: ‘Nursing is not just a profession, it’s a calling to serve, heal,

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Now Hiring

Are you a healthcare educator? Sumner College is looking for our next Nursing Educator to join our team. This is a part time position. Read

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Meet Erin – Sumner College Graduate

Erin, congratulations on your graduation! As you’ve embarked on your nursing journey, remember: ‘Nursing is not just a profession, it’s a calling to serve, heal,

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Exploring the Vital Role of Nurses in Heart Health

Article Shared from DiversityNursing.com February is American Heart Month. It's important to promote cardiovascular health and explore the many ways Nurses are engaged in these

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Meet Anne Marie – Sumner College Graduate

Anne Marie, congratulations on your graduation! As you've embarked on your nursing journey, remember: 'Nursing is not just a profession, it's a calling to serve,

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Nursing Ranked Most Trusted Profession for 22nd Year

Article Shared from DiversityNursing.com In Gallup's 2023 Honesty and Ethics poll, Americans' evaluations of almost all 23 professions have experienced a decline compared to previous years.

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Helpful Apps Every Nurse Should Have

Article shared from DiversityNursing.com Mobile apps have transformed how Nurses provide care to their patients. Smartphones allow Nurses easy access to applications designed to assist

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DiversityNursing.com – Helpful Resources

Helpful Resources DiversityNursing.com is a Career Job Board, Community and Information Resource for all Nurses regardless of age, race, gender identity, religion, education, national origin,

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How to Prepare for College – Oregon Goes to School

Article shared from Oregon Goes to College  It’s a plan! No matter what grade you’re in, you can get ready for your future. Getting ready

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Sumner College Clinical Partners

Sumner College clinical partnerships play a crucial role in advancing medical education and training. By offering opportunities for hands-on experience and mentorship, these collaborations help

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Commencement Ceremony

Save the date - April 6, 2024 for Sumner College's Commencement Ceremony. Celebrating cohorts: PN54, PN55, ADN23, RN-BSN10 and RN-BSN11 Congratulations to you all!! Tickets

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Healthcare Hero

Are you aspiring to be a healthcare hero? A common question from our nursing students at Sumner College is about the role of ER nurses

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Dynamic – Interactive – Rich with Real-world Relevance

RNs are you ready to take your nursing career to the next level with a BSN? Guess what - at Sumner College, you can achieve

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ER Nursing

Have you been thinking, “How can I start my nursing career in an ER?" Begin by obtaining a solid understanding of nursing through an approved

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LPN

At Sumner College, we understand the importance of every role in the nursing field, including the dedicated work of Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). LPNs are

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Flexible – Balanced – Online RN to BSN

Wondering what it's like to pursue a nursing degree online? At Sumner College, our RN to BSN program fits the busy lives of working nurses

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Nursing, beyond direct patient care

Thinking about a career in nursing but interested in roles beyond direct patient care? At Sumner College, we recognize that nursing offers diverse career paths,

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Jobs in 2031 will likely require postsecondary education

Degrees and credentials after high school will become increasingly important in the job market, a new report found. Analysis from the Georgetown University Center on

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Evolving Healthcare Landscape for Job Opportunities

As we enter 2024, the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, bringing exciting job opportunities for Practical Nurses. Nurses are able to work in different environments

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RNs, what is your next step in advancing your career in nursing?

Are you a Registered Nurse wondering what the next step is in your career? Explore why pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at

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Is Practical Nursing a Career for You?

As a Practical Nurse, you can choose when and where you work. This career path offers an opportunity to enjoy a healthy work-life balance. At

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Why Choose Sumner College for your Nursing Education?

Why Sumner College? Our BSN Program is designed to be completed in 32 months No prerequisites required to apply Small class sizes foster exceptional learning

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Is a BSN required to work in hospitals?

Aspiring nurses often ask, "Is a BSN required to work in hospitals?" There are hospitals and healthcare settings that prefer this licensure because it demonstrates

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Dream More in 2024! – Welcome New Sumner College Nursing Students

The Future is HERE! Welcome, 2024! Dream BIGGER, Reach HIGHER! Sumner College - Dream More in 2024! Our nursing classes enroll every ten weeks. Welcome

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