Brooklyn, New York – (May 17, 2024) – In honor of National Nurses Month, Maimonides Health hosted its 9th annual Nurse for a Day event. This initiative is designed to provide participants, including local elected officials and community leaders, a hands-on opportunity to understand the essential services provided by nurses.
The honorary nurses who participated in the event were paired with Maimonides registered nurses (RNs) to get a glimpse into their day-to-day activities and responsibilities. The event concluded with a reception where Maimonides leaders provided each honoree with a participation award.
Among others, this year’s group of honorary nurses included representatives from the Office of the Mayor, NYC Department of Education, New York City Police Department, and many more civic, religious, and community organizations, as well as executive and clinical leaders from Maimonides Health itself.
“I want to express my gratitude for all who participated today,” said Ken Gibbs, CEO and President of Maimonides Health. “Part of the strength of who we are is the strength of our community institutions and their leaders. It is our partnerships in the community that enable us to be more comprehensive in our care, and the notion that we can all come together with a purpose will be our strongest rock to stand on as we navigate our community’s current challenges. In every corner of this institution, there is a level of expertise, commitment and heart that defines us, and today was a great reminder that each of us can always discover more.”
“As the daughter of a nurse, to me, nurses are absolutely everything, and I think it says so much about this hospital that they are shining the light on nurses, who are the frontline workers for healthcare, interacting with families, doctors, and administration,” said Camille Joseph Varlack, Chief of Staff to New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “We as an administration are incredibly proud to support institutions such as this one that are taking such good care of New Yorkers, and we thank Maimonides nurses for sharing a little bit of what they do every day and how they do it with us today.”
“We’re incredibly proud of our nursing staff. They are the backbone of this organization,” said Judy Bachman, Chief Operating Officer, Maimonides Health. “Our guests here today hold roles in our community in which, like our nursing staff at Maimonides, they often deal with people in the most stressful of times, the highest of their joys, and the lowest of their despairs. We appreciate that these community leaders were able to come together with our staff to share some of those experiences today.”
“I’m glad that community leaders are here to really realize what it is that we’ve done as nurses here,” said Nancy Hagans, Maimonides nurse and New York State Nurses Association President. “People don’t have to go across the river to Manhattan to receive the best of care. When you’re at Maimonides, every patient is getting the best quality of care. It’s been a privilege to work here and see what we accomplish, and I’m proud to be a Maimonides nurse.”
“Today’s experience reinforced something I have known for a while – that Maimonides nurses are among the best anywhere,” said Pinny Ringel, Democratic District Leader, 48th Assembly. “This was an eye opener to see firsthand the vital tasks and care the Maimonides medical teams provide to patients on a daily basis. I’m thankful to the hospital for giving me this opportunity and to all who participated today to allow us to get a glimpse of what it means to serve our community as a nurse. All of my children and grandchildren were born here at Maimonides, and I am proud to support this hospital that I feel so connected to, as well as the healthcare workers here who I have so much respect for.”
See photos of the event here. Use PIN 6203 to download.
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About Maimonides Health
Maimonides Health is Brooklyn’s largest healthcare system, serving over 300,000 patients each year through the system’s three hospitals, 1,800 physicians, and more than 80 community-based practices and outpatient centers. The system is anchored by Maimonides Medical Center, one of the nation’s largest independent teaching hospitals and home to centers of excellence in numerous specialties; Maimonides Midwood Community Hospital (formerly New York Community Hospital), a 130-bed adult medical-surgical hospital; and Maimonides Children’s Hospital, Brooklyn’s only children’s hospital, and only pediatric trauma center.
Maimonides’ clinical programs rank among the best in the country for patient outcomes, including its Heart and Vascular Institute, Neurosciences Institute, Bone and Joint Center, and Cancer Center. Maimonides is an affiliate of Northwell Health and a major clinical training site for SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. For additional information, please visit www.maimo.org.