Its National Nurses Week (May 6-12), and folks around the state are honoring Nebraskas nearly 23 thousand registered nurses. The Gallup Poll has listed nursing as the top profession for honesty and ethics for 17 consecutive years. Executive director for the Nebraska Board of Nursing Ann Oertwich explains its a job that requires unique skills and dedication.
I think sometimes people think that nurses are easily replaced by folks with licenses, and the education and training that goes into being a nurse is above and beyond and provides so much more than nurses are often given credit for.
Bureau of Labor Statistics show registered nurses in Nebraska earn on a average 62 thousand dollars a year, a recent WalletHub ranked the state 17th on its list of best and worst states for nurses to work.
Oertwich explains that nurses are truly on the front lines of care, and well positioned to assess and help address chronic health-care problems such as the opioid epidemic.
Whether its in the emergency room, even on the street or in the grocery store, nurses are out there amongst the people living and working, and really can detect changes and trends in whats happening and the opioid crisis is a great example of that.
The American Nurses Association has developed resources to help nurses identify and manage patients battling addiction. President of the Association of Womens Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, Jennifer Doyle, explains that includes educating patients on the proper use of medication for pain management, as well as non-drug alternatives.
For any person undergoing surgery, were trying – as health care in general – trying to send patients home with less opioid medicine, not to expect that youre going to go home with two months worth of opioids.
National Nurses Week concludes on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is considered the founder of modern nursing.
