Charlestown held a brunch in recognition of Nurses’ Week. It was for its 155 retired nurses. The nurses from Continuing Care hosted the event. Over 100 of us attended. It was well-organized, thoughtful, and a chance to reconnect with others who spent their lives in the nursing profession.
The Maryland Nurse Honor Guard took part in the event. They presented each of us with a white rose and a certificate of appreciation. These were a nice touch. The Honor Guard dressed in white uniforms (no scrubs) with navy capes and white hats with a black stripe. They reminded us of “the good ole days.”
What made the morning memorable were the conversations. We shared stories as nurses. These included experiences from Peace Corps service and the Project HOPE ship. Other stories came from careers in occupational health, pediatric ICU, PhD nurse educators, and long-term care. Several nurses were among those who helped start programs that are now standard practice. Some of our colleagues started the practices we now take for granted.
Our Community residents offers scholarships to the teenagers who serve as waiters in our dining rooms. A few years ago, a new health sciences scholarship was started with contributions from the retired nurses. $20,700 has been raised so far this year. Those scholarships will be awarded at the Scholars Fund ceremony later this Month. It’s good to know the next generation of caregivers will have some support.
All in all, it was a respectful, well-paced event that honored the work we’ve done without making it overly sentimental. I’m glad I went.