Hartford – Often described as an art and a science, nursing is being celebrated across the country as a profession that embraces dedicated people with varied interests, strengths and passions because of the many opportunities the profession offers. The American Nurses Association (ANA) has declared the 2007 theme “Nursing: A Profession and a Passion.”

Annually, National Nurses Week begins on May 6, marked as RN Recognition Day, and ends on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, founder of nursing as a modern profession. Department of Public Health (DPH) Deputy Commissioner Norma Gyle, R.N., Ph.D. stated “As nurses, we work in emergency rooms, school based clinics, homeless shelters, and state  agencies, to name a few.” “We have many roles – from staff nurse to educator to nurse practitioner and nurse researcher – and serve all of them with passion for the profession and with a strong commitment to patient safety.”

“As a nurse myself, I want people to know that nursing provides its trained professionals with limitless opportunities to achieve,” said Dr. Gyle. “The flexibility of nursing is enormous, and the satisfaction of doing for others cannot be measured.”

DPH employs dozens of public health nurses who perform a variety services for the people of Connecticut including regulating health care facilities and running community-based programs. DPH recently launched a new Office of Public Health Nursing, which works to promote the public health nursing profession.

Traditionally, National Nurses Week is devoted to highlighting the diverse ways in which registered nurses, the largest health care profession, are working to improve health care. From beside nursing in hospitals and long term care facilities to the halls of research institutions, state legislatures, and Congress, the depth and breadth of the nursing profession is meeting the expanding health care needs of American society.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health is the state’s leader in public health policy and advocacy with a mission to protect and promote the health and safety of the people of our state. To contact the department, please visit its website at www.dph.state.ct.us or call (860) 509-7270.
 

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