It’s National Nurses Week and the American Red Cross thanks all our nurses, partners and those who support nurses in serving individuals and communities across the globe.

The Red Cross relies on more than 20,000 nurses and other health professionals who bring our mission to life each day. They continue a proud tradition of service that stretches back to the earliest days of the organization. In their distinctive capes and hats, nurses were the public face of the Red Cross for many decades. Today, the Red Cross nurse “uniform” may be a simple vest and pin but they remain a vital part of our disaster services, blood program and health and safety training. Learn more about Red Cross nursing here.

Linda MacIntyre, PhD, RN, Chief Nurse for the American Red Cross, offers the following message in honor of National Nurses Week:

“Happy Nurses Week!

“I am deeply grateful to you for sharing your compassion and expertise in support of the Red Cross humanitarian mission.  As nurses, you promote resilience through caring and leadership.  You draw from many disciplines to ensure that evidence-based action guides your work. You bring hearts and minds together to mitigate suffering and promote wellbeing.  Nurses do not work alone --we are indebted to individuals, partners and organizations who support and champion care for individuals and communities.

“Here are some of the challenges and ways that nurses help address them:

• “Global disasters cost $160 billion in 2018 and the Weather Channel reported that four U.S. events accounted for one-third of the cost with the Camp Fire the costliest at $16.5 billion and Hurricane Michael at $16 billion (Wright, Weather Channel 2018).  The cost in human suffering is astounding.  Nurses and other health professionals supported efforts to mitigate the suffering.

• “The global Red Cross Red Crescent network’s 2018 World Disasters Report: Leaving No One Behind identified at-risk communities: ‘Out of reach communities cut off by geography, insecurity, war, violence against humanitarian personnel, and other conditions; Out of sight communities, including those that are unmapped. Poor or non-existent mapping, particularly in remote areas and fast-growing urban slums, can also render entire communities invisible; [and] People left out of the loop, including those with needs that have been long acknowledged. In particular, people with disabilities and elderly people.’  In the United States, more nurses and other health and mental health professional volunteers are needed to advocate for individuals and address disaster-related needs. Red Cross volunteer training is free.

• “There is an ongoing need for blood donations and in January the Red Cross issued an emergency appeal. Nurses educate communities and promote blood donation to ensure that the correct match of lifesaving blood is available when needed.

• “In 2017, there were 1.3 active duty military and more than 800,000 reserve military forces. Red Cross health and mental health professional volunteers support members of the military, veterans and their families through emergency communication, reconnection workshops, case management and more.

• “Measles outbreaks have increased in the U.S. Red Cross nurses teach communities in the U.S. about the Measles & Rubella Initiative, advocate for partner funding and raise funds through Nurses Supporting the Eradication of Measles and Rubella.

• “Red Cross nurses teach Nurse Assistant Training to help ensure that there are certified nurse assistants available to care for individuals.  Health professional volunteers teach lifesaving classes.

• “According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2018 there were approximately 3 million nurses in the U.S.  There are approximately 20,000 Red Cross health professional volunteers.  Some volunteer positions require licenses and many do not.  Imagine the impact if each of these 20,000 recruited one new health professional volunteer each year. Invite someone to Become a Volunteer.

“You make a positive difference that can only partially be measured. Thank you for joining hearts and minds in your humanitarian service. Happy Nurses Week!”