Nurses at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Health
System will celebrate National Nurses Week with activities, beginning May
6 and ending May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, founder of nursing
as a profession. The week, themed, “Relight the Lamp,” is dedicated to
honoring nurses and their contributions.
There are about 24, 000 licensed nurses in Nebraska, according to 1999
figures from the Nebraska Health and Human Services. Nationally there are
about 2.6 million nurses according to the American Nurses Association.
On May 10, nationally-known humorist and motivational speaker, Karen
Kaiser Clark, will make presentations during breakfast and lunch. On May
12, at noon, NHS and UNMC will participate in a worldwide commemorative
event in honor of Florence Nightingale and the nursing profession. A moment
of silence will be held in celebration and dedication of the heart and
spirit of nursing. In addition, two nurses will be presented with excellence
in nursing awards — the Carol M. Wilson Award for Quality in Nursing and
the Spirit of Nursing Award.
The Wilson award, named in honor of a longtime nursing leader at University
Hospital, was established in 1993. It honors a professional nurse who represents
the highest ideals in nursing. The Spirit of Nursing Award is being awarded
to honor a staff nurse who exemplifies excellence in patient care.
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state.
Through its commitment to research, education, outreach and patient care,
UNMC has established itself as one of the country’s leading centers for
cancer research and treatment, solid organ transplantation and arthritis.
During the past year, nearly $31 million in research grants and contracts
were awarded to UNMC scientists, and UNMCs funding from the National Institutes
of Health increased by 28 percent, going from $16.2 million to $20.7 million.
UNMCs educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals
practicing in Nebraska than any other institution.
NHS is the partnership of Clarkson Hospital, the first hospital in Nebraska,
and University Hospital, the primary teaching facility for UNMC. The combined
hospital is a 685-bed facility and serves approximately 25 percent of the
Omaha-area market. NHS operates clinics and health care centers serving
Omaha, Plattsmouth, and Auburn in Nebraska; and Council Bluffs and Shenandoah
in Iowa. In addition, NHS physicians operate more than 300 outpatient clinics
in 100 communities in four states. NHS provides access to tertiary and
primary care including world-class specialized treatment such as solid
organ transplantation, burn care, wound care, geriatrics, bone marrow (stem
cell) transplantation and other cancer treatments.