Canine cuddlin’ : UPMC Washington nurses enjoy puppy playtime during National Nurses Week
Nursing can be an incredibly rewarding – and stressful – job.
As part of National Nurses Week, UPMC Washington welcomed a pair of furry friends on campus who got plenty of hugs and pats as they wiggled their way among staff and nursing students on Tuesday.
In partnership with the nonprofit group VetPets of SWPA, UPMC Washington hosted two Labrador retriever puppies, Myya and Brady, to celebrate National Nurses Week.
“Nurses Week is a significant event. Nurses are an integral part of care delivery. Nurses are at the heart of it, they are the heart of the care we provide,” said Jeff Alvarez, chief nursing officer and vice president of patient care services at UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene.
The nursing students and nurses who stopped by the living room of the Washington Health System School of Nursing offered the four-legged friends pats, hugs and belly rubs, and enjoyed a break during their day.
“It’s so awesome. I love it, it’s refreshing and happy,” said nursing student Cheyenne Martin. “I love being here and learning about how to help people out, and this is a really good break.”
National Nurses Week is an annual celebration held from May 6 to May 12 – Florence Nightingale’s birthday – to recognize the role nurses play in health care. Nurses are the backbone of the health-care system, offering compassion, care and dedication to help others in their most vulnerable times.
The first National Nurses Week was observed in October 1954, marking the 100th anniversary of Nightingale’s mission serving injured soldiers during the Crimean War. President Richard Nixon proclaimed a National Nurses Week in 1974, and President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 6 as National Nurses Day. In 1990, the American Nurses Association extended the celebration to mark May 6 through 12 as Nurses Week.
“It’s such a stress reliever,” said nursing student Jordan Klein. “They are so cute and so soft and cuddly.”
Myya and Brady, who are siblings, served as “CCOs” (Chief Compassion Officers) for the nursing staff. The pups are undergoing training to become service dogs for disabled veterans in Washington County, as part of the nonprofit’s goal to pair veterans with companion dogs.
“It was nice to see the nursing students and the staff smile. We know that the world owes a debt of gratitude for nurses, especially since COVID,” said Omar Brooks, founder of VetPets of SWPA.
Brooks said that Brady, a frisky, yellow-haired lab, is named after the late Brady Brooks, who served as former commander of Washington Post 72347.
“We want to be there to support our nurses, and to give back to them however we can,” said Brooks. “We were happy we could be there to help out.”
UPMC Washington and Greene appreciation events don’t stop at the puppy event, with other recognition events scheduled throughout the week.