Orange County Recognizes National Nurses Week

GOSHEN – With great pride, Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus recognized local nurses on Wednesday to kick off National Nurses Week, which runs from May 6-12.

“National Nurses Week takes on added significance as Orange County navigates through the COVID-19 pandemic,” Neuhaus said. “The perseverance, spirit, and commitment demonstrated by nurses and other medical personnel throughout Orange County during this unprecedented time have been inspirational and we thank you for your courageous efforts. I commend Orange County’s nurses and other medical personnel for their resiliency and for the extraordinary care that they are providing our residents each and every day.”

Neuhaus visited the Valley View Center for Nursing Care and Rehabilitation on the morning of Wednesday, May 6th and later in the day to thank the nurses and staff for their hard work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As we have seen throughout the country, nursing home residents are particularly susceptible to the COVID-19 virus, and Valley View has been on the frontlines of the battle against the disease,” Neuhaus said. “I commend Valley View administrator Laurence LaDue and his dedicated staff for their strength and for their commitment to caring for our residents at this time.”

The County Executive also recognized the work of the County Health Department’s Epidemiological and Nursing staff.

“The Health Department has worked diligently and daily since the start of the COVID-19 crisis,” Neuhaus said. “Each day, this unit receives hundreds of laboratory results for the entire county and corresponds with residents about potential contacts, while performing contact tracing. I have been inspired by their commitment and their ability to meet the needs of our residents during this challenging time.”

National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th, and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Nightingale is revered by many as the founder of modern nursing. She practiced in England and gained notoriety tending to soldiers during the Crimean War from 1853-1856.

Nightingale died in 1910 at age 90. National Nurses Week recognizes the selfless work of dedicated nurses who are often the first line of defense in the prevention of illness and injuries. The purpose of this week-long celebration is to raise awareness of the value of nursing and help educate the public about the role nurses play in meeting the growing healthcare needs of Americans.

“These men and women take special care of us with pride and compassion,” Neuhaus said.

“They certainly deserve to be recognized for everything they do in our communities.”