D-M celebrates nurses week Published April 29, 2008 By 355th Fighter Wing Medical Group DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Join with nurses throughout the U.S. and at the 355th Medical Group in celebrating National Nurses' Week. Florence Nightingale's birthday, May 6 is the kick-off date for the celebration, which runs through May 12,. " Nursing: Making a Difference Every Day" is the theme for this year's event. The role of nursing since Nightingale's time has changed dramatically with the advent of managed care and health care reform. The role of military nursing has also evolved to keep pace with the Air Force's expeditionary capabilities. With all the changes taking place around them, nurses continue their role as patients' strongest advocates. Health care cost containment initiatives and the increasing emergence of managed care in the U.S. health care delivery system have had a great impact on the work environment of nurses. Just like professionals in other areas where "downsizing" has occurred in recent years, today's nurses, to include those at the 355 MDG, are part of a leaner staff doing more work. They continue to rise to the challenge. Today there are 2.7 million registered nurses in the U.S. Over 110 active duty, reserve, and civilian nurses and medical technicians serve at the 355th MDG with varied educational backgrounds and nursing experiences. They have worked on medical, surgical, critical care, oncology and obstetric units or served as operating room nurses, flight nurses, independent duty medical technicians and nurse practitioners. While the scope of nursing practice has expanded to meet the ever-changing health care needs of America, Air Force nursing has expanded to meet the needs of the expeditionary warrior. Nursing personnel here at Davis-Monthan focus their energy in family practice, internal medicine, pediatric, surgical, women's health and flight medicine clinics. Prevention is the cornerstone for all of their care. Nursing personnel are key members of an award winning pre-deployment record screening process. Their efforts are focused on keeping Davis-Monthan personnel ready to deploy while reaching out to their families and our retired beneficiaries on the home front. Presently on staff in the 355th MDG are nurses and medical technicians who have deployed, provided aeromedical evacuation in the AOR, participated in Katrina relief efforts, and reached out to other countries on humanitarian missions. The 355th MDG is proud of the enthusiasm, expertise, and dedication of the 110 nurses and medical technicians on staff. During National Nurses Week, please join us in rendering a salute to all nurses whose caring and dedication have changed the face of medicine and changed the lives of our patients for the better. They are passionate. Nurse Melodie Chenevert aptly describes nursing in her poem titled "Being a NURSE means ..." "You will never be bored. You will always be frustrated. You will be surrounded by challenges. So much to do and so little time. You will carry immense responsibility and very little authority. You will step into people's lives and you will make a difference. Some will bless you. Some will curse you. You will see people at their worst. ... and at their best. You will never cease to be amazed at people's capacity for love, courage, and endurance. You will see life begin...and end. You will experience resounding triumphs and devastating failures. You will cry a lot. You will laugh a lot. You will know what it means to be human and to be humane." It is easy to loose sight of what is unique about nurses and the nursing profession when national issues such as RN shortages and the aging workforce dominate in media reports. Let National Nurse's Week be a reminder of what is so special about nurses. Celebrate!