COLUMBIA, S.C. — If you have ever been in a hospital or doctor's office, whether as a patient or visitor, you will notice that very often, the first contact you have will be with a nurse, not the doctor.
It's the nurse who makes sure you're comfortable, ensures you take your medication, checks on you in the middle of the night, answers your calls and cares for you and your family if you have a hospital stay. According to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), there are 96,162 licensed nurses across the state.
Because of everything nurses do, May 6 through 12 has been designated National Nurses Week.
News19 would like to hear about your favorite interaction with a nurse. Send us your stories to news19@wltx.com or comment below. We will post letters online or read some on air during the week.
“Our agency would like to thank all of our state’s nurses, who dedicate so much time and effort into protecting the health and safety of South Carolinians every day," Dr. Edward Simmer, DHEC director, said. "While we extend our gratitude to our local nurses during National Nurses Week, it’s important that we also recognize that their work continues far beyond the bounds of this week and that we in turn continue to extend our gratitude and support to them all year.”
DHEC employs 420 nurses, and while all nurses play an important role in the health of South Carolina communities, the nurses within DHEC’s Healthcare Quality (HQ) deputy area play a unique role in health care. Healthcare Quality employs 22 nurses and oversees and regulates nursing homes and acute care services like hospitals, ambulatory care facilities and renal dialysis facilities.
Those nurses specialize in conducting inspections, surveys, and investigations to ensure that healthcare facilities and service providers are following health and safety standards.
“National Nurses Week is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the exceptional job DHEC’s nurses do,” said Gwen Thompson, DHEC’s Healthcare Quality director. “The experience and expertise of Healthcare Quality nurses is incredibly valuable in helping healthcare facilities remain in compliance and promote healthy outcomes for South Carolina’s communities.”
