National Nurses Week
National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. These permanent dates enhance planning and position National Nurses Week as an established recognition event. As of 1998, May 8 was designated as National Student Nurses Day, to be celebrated annually. And as of 2003, National School Nurse Day is celebrated on the Wednesday within National Nurses Week (May 6-12) each year.
National Hospital Week
National Hospital Week is May 7-13. National Hospital Week is an opportunity to highlight our hospitals, health systems and health care workers and the innovative ways they are supporting and connected to their community. According to the American Hospital Association, we celebrate to:
- To recognize the 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks, and others who provide care to their community.
- Our caregivers have taken on unimaginable challenges and have risen to the occasion repeatedly.
- We think it is essential that others see the impact hospitals have made on communities, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Neuroscience Nurses Week
Neuroscience Nurses Week is May 14-20. Neuroscience nurses and NPs can be found throughout the organization, including the ED, ICU, 5 West, Neuro IR lab and outpatient clinics. They care for patients experiencing neurological conditions, such as stroke, spinal disorders, Parkinson’s disease, meningitis, encephalitis, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis.
Mental Health Awareness Month
This month, Houston Methodist recognizes the importance of improving access to care and resources for people with mental illness and their families. We are highlighting the mental health programs and resources that Houston Methodist offers, and we encourage you to use them when you need them. Whatever you’re going through – depression, anxiety, substance abuse, worrying about your children, grieving the death of a loved one or a broken relationship – we have tools to help you get better and cope. There is no shame in needing or seeking help. All interactions with all of our mental health programs are confidential.
Oncology Nurses Month
May is Oncology Nursing Month. The oncology nursing specialty seeks to reduce the risks, incidence and burden of cancer by encouraging healthy lifestyles, promoting early detection, improving the management of cancer symptoms and side effects throughout the disease trajectory and leading the coordination of complex care needs. Oncology and Infusion Services includes: the Infusion Center which has 20 private rooms/bays and is where we administer chemotherapy and immunotherapy. It is on the 2nd floor of the Cancer Center. IV Therapy has 7 chairs and is located in MOB 3 #305. Oncology Services is located in MOB 2 #525 and consists of Oncology Nurse Navigation, Financial Navigation, Oncology Social Work, Cancer Genetics, Survivorship, Music Therapy, Cancer Registry and the Breast Care Center Nurses. Oncology nurses also work on 4E and in the Radiation Oncology Department.
Better Hearing and Speech Month
Speech language pathologists, also known as speech therapists, are part of our inpatient and outpatient rehab teams. They identify, assess, and treat speech, language, and swallowing disorders. They are an integral part of many of our service lines, including neurosciences and oncology. They work with patients experiencing articulation problems, receptive and expressive language issues, swallowing problems and cognitive disorders. Pictured below on the left are inpatient speech pathologists Aisha Farooq and Anna Hoffman. Pictured below on the right is outpatient SLP Carol Wilson.
Other May Celebrations:
ALS Awareness Month
Bladder Cancer Awareness Month
Brain Cancer Awareness Month
Critical Care Recognition Month
Lupus Awareness Month
Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month
Migraine Awareness Month
Stroke Awareness Month
Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month
Uterine Cancer Awareness Month
World Alzheimer’s Awareness Month
Ovarian Cancer Day – May 8
Women’s Health Week – May 9-15
Healthcare Documentation Integrity (Medical Records) Week – May 14-20
Healthcare Technology Management Week – May 14-20
National Accounts Receivable Appreciation Day – May 19
National EMS Week – May 21-27
World No Tobacco Day – May 31
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