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Southeast Wisconsin honors nurses on National Nurses Day

Posted at 7:20 PM, May 06, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-06 20:20:51-04

MILWAUKEE — Signs saying "Healthcare Heroes" can be spotted all across southeast Wisconsin as a way to honor those on the front lines.

This week inside Children's Wisconsin, nurses found a way to honor each other for Nurse's Week. Inside the Post Anesthesia Care Unit, staff members made 2,000 origami birds to represent each nurse at Children's Wisconsin.

"They really wanted to honor nurses all over the community that are coming to work every single day and taking care of the kids in our community," said Katie Hazell, Nursing Patient Supervisor for Children's Wisconsin.

Katie said the birds are a way to inspire other nurses and bring a smile to children's faces.

"Remember kids still need care, accidents happen, kids still get sick, and we are still there to safely take care of kids. And they are coming into work every single day, those dedicated nurses to safely take care of kids," said Hazell.

Over at Ascension, nurses shared their own personal stories about why they are dedicated to the medical field.

Chief Nursing Officer for Ascension, Heather Schimmers, said during the pandemic, nurses have stepped up under extremely difficult and challenging circumstances.

"Through this pandemic our nursing turnover is down, our rate of being able to fill nursing positions has increased. It just goes to show...this is what we do, we are called by our nursing ethical vows that we take, we are called to take care of people regardless of the diagnoses - and that's exactly what people are doing," said Schimmers.

Heather said she is proud of each of her fellow nurses and although others may think they of them as heroes, Heather said nurses are just doing what they consider is a calling.

"When I think of a nurse I think of a servant leader, someone who leads where they are. They are willing to leave the comfort of their own home to take care of the sick and dying," said Heather.

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