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Rowena Elliott, president of the American Nephrology Nurses' Association (ANNA) and a leading nurse educator and role model, has never been satisfied with the status quo for herself or her nursing students. That's why she chose "Soaring to New Heights" as this year's theme for Nephrology Nurses Week (NNW).
"Nephrology nurses put their hearts and souls into caring for their patients," Elliott said. "They often develop personal relationships with patients because kidney disease can span years. Combined with their vision and skills, nurses' caring makes them every day heroes. I admire every single one of them."
NNW is slated for Sept. 11-17, with such activities as celebratory luncheons and special ceremonies held in dialysis units, hospitals, schools and other settings across the nation. There are also gubernatorial proclamations, news articles, visits by representatives of Congress and the U.S. Senate, and other activities planned.
The events provide a forum for employers, patients and the community to thank nephrology nurses, who practice as staff nurses, transplant coordinators, researchers and educators. ANNA also uses the week to help the public understand exactly what nephrology nurses do.
The ANNA website has an NNW section that contains suggestions on "Ways to Celebrate," an online toolkit for nephrology nurses to help them educate others, a poster, and NNW products.
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