Epic Fail For National Nurses Week
For Nurses Week, Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center in California gave its nurses a ROCK!
Can you imagine what the heck may be going on if you received from your employer the gift of a rock for this special occasion?
The rock was blank but came with a message saying, “Encouragement Stone … please take one. Take a moment to paint an image, a word or a phrase of encouragement or wisdom. Keep the rock or give it to a friend as a reminder that the work you do ROCKS! Happy Nurses Week.”
This was beyond insulting that nurses were given a rock for Nurses Week and asked to put their own words of encouragement on it.
It may have been different if the rock came from their manager with a special message noting just why they are so amazing, making it truly a reminder of how outstanding they are which they could keep and cherish. But to have nurses writing their own congratulations on the rock as part of Nurses Week is just appalling.
After this past year of challenge and sacrifice that nurses have experienced while caring for patients in this pandemic, many times in short-staffed facilities, Kaiser Permanente’s intentions may have been honest and sincere but, in my opinion, gifting a rock is an insult.
I found reports that Kaiser Permanente’s Antioch facility has been cited for not reporting COVID cases. Additionally, Kaiser announced this past week that they will be terminating 200 healthcare workers in their northern California facilities. I don’t believe any of those being dismissed are nurses but, obviously, Kaiser Permanente is having a financial problem.
If the above noted is true, being open and honest with their nursing staffs on the situation could go a long way to creating goodwill with staff.
For what it may be worth, for the nurses at Kaiser Permanente in Antioch, as well as for nurses EVERYWHERE, I honor and appreciate you for all that you do for your patients and for the community.
What has your employer done for you this Nurses Week in honor of your service?
