Nellis celebrates nurse, medical technician week

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nathan Byrnes
  • 99th Air Base Wing Public Affaira

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. - The 99th Medical Group clinic celebrated National Nurse and Medical Technician Week May 8 to 12 to recognize nurses and medical technicians for tremendous contributions and invaluable service while providing quality care for our military members and their families.

The weeklong celebration raise awareness of the value of nurses and medical technicians and helps educates the public about the role they play in meeting the healthcare needs of their patients.

"Our nurses and medical technicians are the heartbeat of our organization,” said Col. Virginia Garner, 99th Medical Group commander. “They assess, treat, teach and comfort, but most of all, they care.”

Nursing and medical technicians are physically demanding positions, and often require working long hours, nights and weekends. These are just a few of the sacrifices that come with the job.

“Providing exceptional, compassionate healthcare support to our nation's heroes and their families is hard work, but has a profound impact on so many," said Garner. “It's no wonder the nursing profession continues to be the most trusted profession in America. I am honored to be a part of an organization with so many dedicated professionals and am grateful we have an opportunity to set a few days aside each year to say, ‘thank you.’"

Capt. Marisa Hester, 99th MDG Intensive Care Unit student mentoring and retention team nurse cadre, was in charge of coordinating the week’s activities and made sure day and night shifts had something scheduled for them.

The week included a breakfast sponsored by the USO, free chair massages, a burger burn, patient safety room of horrors contest, photo bus, ice cream social, bar-b-que and a nurse and medical technician-themed Amazing Race.

The week finished with a pizza party to congratulate the winners of the week's events and award prizes.

“It brought me joy to be able to coordinate this week,” said Hester. “I wanted to show my appreciation to them, and it brings a smile to my face when I see them smile. It’s the little things that you do that mean the most.

“Coordinating with our civilian businesses and all that they donated that means a lot to them,” said Hester. “It’s just a reminder that ‘yeah, we do matter.’ I’m happy to see them happy.”

Hester also showed appreciation to those nurses and medical technicians who are deployed by sending them care packages.

“It is important to remember those downrange,” said Hester. “We wanted to make sure that they know we are thinking about them and they are not alone.”

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