Making our community proud this National Nursing Week

This year in Canada, National Nursing Week is celebrated May 11-17, which also coincides with the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth on May 12. As well, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated 2020 as International Year of the Nurse and Midwife.

As we celebrate National Nursing Week this year and pay homage to Florence Nightingale – a British nurse considered to be the founder of modern nursing, I don’t believe anyone could have predicted the critical role that nurses would play in the health care system, and how the work of nursing and all those who work in health care would be featured front and center on the world stage.

During this unprecedented National Nursing Week, I would like to acknowledge all the VCC nursing faculty and students in the current BScN and PN programs. 

In the past, our annual celebration was held on campus to acknowledge the profession of nursing. Although we can’t be together in person this year, the nursing faculty has organized a VCC Nurse’s Day Zoom Conference on May 12 (Florence Nightingale’s Birthday), and all nursing faculty and students have been invited to celebrate virtually.

Finally, I would like to thank all our VCC nursing graduates who are working on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic and making our VCC community very proud. 

Many other VCC Health Sciences grads are also on the front lines and they are doing excellent work. We are so thankful for their contributions during this challenging time. Please join me in extending our gratitude to all the VCC Health Care Assistants, Health Unit Coordinators, Medical Lab Assistants, Pharmacy Technicians, Occupational/Physical Therapist Assistants, and others. 

Nurses are real-life superheroes who, through applying their specialized body of knowledge, are currently making an enormous impact in the fight against COVID-19.

I invite you to watch this video that highlights the history and unique contributions nurses have made to our world. 

 

Thank you,

Jo-Ellen Zakoor
Dean, VCC Health Sciences