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Letter of Appreciation: National Nurses Week 2024

National Nurses Week image shows male and female nurses.

In honor of National Nurses Week, observed May 6-12, 2024, the Deputy Director of Nursing Services Barbara Barney-Knox issued the following letter of appreciation.

National Nurses Week 2024: Nurses make the difference

It is a great honor to represent nurses and to celebrate another year of phenomenal performance. As a society we revel with your praises. We marvel at your kindness and everlasting inspiring character.

Through caring hearts, with endless caring, compassion and determination ensuring high quality patient care is your priority.

Nurses create the clinical experience, providing education, patient advocacy, and family support. Better known as the backbone of the clinical profession. Whether working alongside medical, mid-level or certified clinical staff, you as the nurse are at the center, the conduit that connects the whole person care.

Your job is demanding on every level. You are diligent about the care you provide and the work to find solutions to problems affecting patients, your healthcare teams, and the organizations. Being relentless, empathetic, responsive, and dependable are simply who you are. It is the human dignity and integrity reflected through your actions with your patients and their families in providing ethical and quality care.

As we celebrate Nurses Week, please know the loyalty and professionalism demonstrated on a daily is recognized throughout the community as you are highly valued for your commitment in providing excellent service. As nurses, striving to improve knowledge through coursework, practice and studying supports the goal in providing excellent support and patient care. Nurses Make the Difference.

Thank you for putting yourselves on the front line and for all of the long hours and devoted work. It is with gratitude, appreciation, that we say, “Thank you.”

“Nurses dispense comfort, compassion, and caring without even a prescription,” Val Saintsbury.

Barbara Barney-Knox, MBA, MA, BSN, RN
Deputy Director, Nursing Services
California Correctional Health Care Services

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