Letter to the Editor for national Nursing and Hospital Week 2018

Today, on May 6, 2018, Carteret Health Care is beginning an important week-long celebration in honor of National Nurses Week and National Hospital Week. These celebrations, two of the largest of their kind in our country, raise public awareness of the vital roles that nurses and healthcare staff have in the care of patients throughout the United States. From providing treatment and comfort to the sick, to welcoming new life into the world, hospitals are central to a healthy and optimistic community. This year’s Hospital Week theme is “Caring is Our Calling” and we, along with all hospitals throughout the country will use this as the centerpiece to unite healthcare facilities during our May 6 – 12 celebrations.

In our community, this is a wonderful time for all of us at Carteret Health Care to celebrate the important work our hospital performs each day, the outstanding results it produces and the difference this organization makes for our community. Our staff’s engagement has awarded us many opportunities to be recognized including being the only NC hospital to be named as a Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital by iVantage Health Analytics, receiving the highest NC Maternity Center Breastfeeding-Friendly Designation and for receiving the most Get With the Guideline awards of any NC hospital for heart failure, stroke, atrial fibrillation and resuscitation care.

There are very few among us who have not been touched in some way by the exceptional, compassionate staff at Carteret Health Care. From providing medical care in our facilities to running vital programs in our community to volunteering in community organizations such as Broad Street Clinic to sponsoring health and educational events such as cancer and diabetes screenings, the Carteret Health Care team is committed to improving the health and well-being of those we serve.

A full slate of activities is planned for this week including a Health Fair for the community offering free health screenings and education on Monday, May 7 from 9:00 am until 12:00 noon in hospital’s main lobby. The community is also invited to join us for an Art Exhibition by Carteret County School Children focused on “The Profession of Nursing from a Child’s Eye.” Tuesday, May 8 will include a pet Adopt-A-Thon with Misplaced Mutts and everyone is invited to meet our furry CHC Volunteers and Therapy Animals on the Arendell Street lawn during this time too.

During these specially designated celebrations, it is important to remember, first and foremost, these special times are a celebration of people. We thank all of the dedicated individuals — physicians, nurses, therapists, engineers, food service workers, volunteers, and so many more — for their caring about you and our community. We hope that you will notice a large ad appearing in this newspaper listing the names of all of our staff. Please join with us in thanking and recognizing them for the countless ways they give every day for patients, Carteret County and all communities we serve. To all these dedicated and loyal nurses and all staff, please accept our sincere thanks and congratulations for your vital work and the strength you share with our community and each other.

Sincerely,

Patrick Joyce, Chairman Dick Brvenik

Board of Directors President