Nursing Week runs May 7-13 and Alberta Health Services (AHS) is recognizing nurses for their important contributions to the delivery of quality patient care in hospitals and communities across Central Zone including Drumheller.
“Whether they work in hospitals, clinical or research environments, in rural communities or urban settings, in homes or in our schools, nurses are an essential part of our healthcare system,” says Kerry Bales, Chief Zone Officer for Central Zone.
Drumheller marked the event with a barbecue at the Drumheller Hospital and Care Centre, on Wednesday, May 9, served by site leadership, mayor and council. Mayor Colberg appreciates all that nurses do in the community.
“The biggest thing is we don’t really realize all they do for us until we actually use the services, and if I had my way we would have way more in the valley,” said Colberg. “We are blessed to have them.”
Nurses are the largest group of health professionals in the province. In Central Zone, more than 2,600 registered nurses (RNs), 1,100 licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and 300 registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs) work in diverse areas such as direct patient care, education, coordination of care and management.
“We are incredibly grateful for the hard work and dedication of all the nursing staff in our zone,” says Dr. Daniel Edgcumbe, Interim Medical Director for Central Zone. “They are vital in delivering care to Albertans each and every day — and their contributions are deeply valued by patients, physicians, other healthcare professionals and AHS alike.”
