CHICKASHA - The work of America’s 2.9 million registered nurses to save lives and to maintain the health of millions of individuals is the focus of this year’s national Nurses Week, celebrated annually May 6-12. The American Nurses Association has selected “Nurses: Making a Difference Every Day,” as the theme for 2008. The Oklahoma State Department of Health and the Grady County Health Department take this time every year to recognize the hard work and many achievements of public health nurses in making all Oklahomans stronger and healthier.

There are about 450 nurses employed statewide at local county health departments, including eight at the Grady County Health Department. Some of the services they provide are child and adult immunizations, preventative health screenings, monitoring and control of communicable diseases and chronic health concerns, services that assure healthier mothers and babies, child abuse prevention, bioterrorism preparedness and school health education,” said Grady County Health Department Administrative Director Mike Milton.

Annually, National Nurses week begins on RN Recognition Day, May 6 and ends on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, founder of nursing as a modern profession. During this week, registered nurses in Oklahoma are recognized for the dedication, commitment and effort they provide to the public seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Also during National Nurses Week, the National Association of School Nurses, Inc. will recognize National School Nurse Day on May 7, using the theme, “Healthy Children Learn Better.”

National School Nurse Day was established to promote a better understanding of the role of school nurses in educational settings. Today, school nursing is recognized as a specialized practice with more than 50,000 school nurses across the country. They promote health and safety, intervene with actual and potential health problems, provide case management services, and actively collaborate with others to build student/family capacity for adaptation, self-management, self-advocacy and learning.

County health departments across the state have partnered with local school districts to provide school nursing services. Public health nurses contract with schools to provide school nursing services in 12 counties, including Garfield, Grant, Major, Woods, Carter, Canadian, Coal, Blaine, Dewey, Kingfisher, Lincoln and Logan counties.

Diana Pistole, MPH, RN, OSDH, Chief of Nursing Service, Barbara Smith, MPH, RN, M Ed., OSDH School Health Coordinator, and Cabinet Secretary for Health and State health Commissioner Dr. Michael Crutcher would like to salute all nurses in both the public and private sectors for their dedicated service in meeting the health care needs of Oklahomans.

“In addition, Grady County Health Department would like to take this opportunity to thank all local nurses for their hard work in our community,” said Milton.

The public health nurses in Grady County Health Department include Jo Singleton, Twyla Palmer, Wendy Loyd, Sandra Stinson, Louise Foster, Julie Baity, C. I. Karen Qualley, and C.I. Rhonda McDaniel.

For more information on National School Nurse day, visit www.nasn.org. For more information about National Nurses Week or nursing job opportunities at the OSDH and county health departments, visit http://nursingworld.org or http://www.ok.gov/health/Career_Opportunities/index.html.