Friday, May 02, 2008

For the thirteenth consecutive year, the Nurses' Day Celebration will be hosted by the University of North Carolina Wilmington School of Nursing and the North Carolina Nurses' Association, District 22. Approximately 300 attendees will gather to celebrate, "Nurses – Making a Difference Every Day," beginning at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 8 in the Burney Center Ballroom. A significant number of registered nurses from Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties will be honored for their contributions in practice, education, research, and administration. Outstanding Alumnus and Faculty of the Year awards will be presented. In addition, local students will receive scholarships.

Often described as an art and a science, nursing is a profession that embraces health promotion, disease prevention, and illness through dedicated professional with varied interests, strengths and passions. Nurses work in the local and global community, emergency rooms, schools, clinics, hospitals, and shelters as staff nurses, administrators and leaders, educators, practitioners, and researchers.

National Nurses Week is celebrated May 6-12 annually. May 12 is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. This year's event is chaired by BJ Ellender, Director of Cardiac Rehab, J Arthur Dosher Memorial Hospital and President, District 22, NCNA. A dedicated committee of nurse professionals from the major health care agencies and schools of nursing continue to plan and execute this gala to honor the nurses of this region.

UNCW received 31 million dollars from the NC General Assembly to plan and construct a new School of Nursing facility. The Groundbreaking is being planned for 2008. The new facility will house the School of Nursing’s baccalaureate and graduate programs which includes the baccalaureate program in Clinical Research. The new facility will allow UNCW dedicated space to educate students, to facilitate faculty research and to enhance outreach opportunities for the community.

Note: Members of the media are invited to attend Nurses' Day Celebration. For more information, contact Caroline Cropp, 910.962.7109.