National Nurses Week 2019: 94,000 Reasons to Celebrate

This week marks one of HCA Healthcare’s most exciting annual celebrations: National Nurses Week. Nurses are the differentiators for our organization with more than 94,000-strong delivering patient-centered and compassionate care in communities across the country.

The theme of this year’s Nurses Week is “4 million reasons to celebrate”, honoring America’s 4 million registered nurses and members of our nation’s most-trusted profession.

One in every 50 nurses in America works at HCA Healthcare- more than any other organization in the country – and today we pause to recognize their invaluable contributions in the communities we serve and beyond.

‘Goodies’ for nurses

While discounts and deals are being offered to nurses across the globe this week, we are showing support to the men and women who make a positive impact in the lives of others by:

• Developing methods for them to navigate their career and unlock their full potential
• Creating world-class clinical education programs to enhance skill and practice with unrivaled expertise and confidence
• Investing in technology that supports your dedication to delivering care
• Building a network of opportunities allowing both prospective and practicing nurses to develop as professionals, clinicians and leaders, and
• Encouraging nurses to strive for excellence through professional development.

Growing nurse leaders

There are so many exciting opportunities for nurses inside HCA Healthcare, including leadership roles.

Take Regina Bartlett, for example. In June, she will be celebrating her 41st year as a nurse. She started as a medical-surgical registered nurse at Chattanooga, Tennessee’s Parkridge Medical Center in 1978.  By 2007, she advanced to her current position as Chief Executive Officer of Tristar Hendersonville Medical Center in Hendersonville, Tenn.

Regina Bartlett began her nursing career at HCA Healthcare’s Parkridge Medical Center in 1978. Nearly 41 years later, Bartlett now serves as TriStar Hendersonville’s chief executive officer.

Stephanie Davis is another great example. She started as a staff perioperative nurse over 25 years ago and is now our Vice President of Surgical Services for the Operations and Service Line group. She is also the immediate past president for the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN).

HCA Healthcare “alumni” like Loressa Cole also have paved the leadership road outside of our organization.

Her journey took her from staff nurse in general medical-surgical to top nurse leadership roles at two HCA Healthcare Virginia hospitals to chief nurse officer at affiliate LewisGale Hospital Montgomery to become the ANA Enterprise CEO, an organizing platform of the American Nurses Association, American Nurses Credentialing Center and American Nurses Foundation.

Leaders like Regina, Stephanie and Loressa show that nurses not only embody commitment to patients but are also at the forefront of leading our nation’s healthcare system.

To all of the nurses past, present and future, thank you for representing our organization’s purpose on each shift and delivering healthier tomorrows every day, every time. Happy Nurses Week.

Visit here for more information on nursing careers at HCA Healthcare.

In 1993, the American Nurses Association declared May 6-12 as the national week to celebrate and elevate the nursing profession. National Nurses Week is a time for everyone – individuals, employers, other health care professionals, community leaders, and nurses – to recognize the vast contributions and positive impact of America’s 4 million registered nurses. Each year, the celebration ends on May 12, Florence Nightingale’s birthday.