DiversityNursing Blog

October 2, 2024

RALEIGH, N.C. – With recovery efforts just beginning in western North Carolina, the North Carolina Nurses Association (NCNA) and the North Carolina Foundation for Nursing (NCFN) have launched a campaign to financially assist nurses impacted by Helene. The NCFN – Nurse Recovery Fund is designed to quickly distribute money directly to nurses suffering from loss or damages due to catastrophic flooding, wind, or landslides in the western parts of North Carolina.

“We are not the kind of organization that can mobilize a largescale in-person response to a disaster – but what we can do really well is support the nurses living through these unimaginable circumstances,” said NCNA President Trish Richardson, MSN, BSBA, RN, NE-BC, CMSRN. “Some of our colleagues have likely lost as much as anyone else. This part of the state was already experiencing provider shortages and limited access to care, so it is critical that those nurses feel valued and appreciated. We want to do everything we can to help them get back on their feet so they can continue to deliver quality, compassionate healthcare for their fellow North Carolinians.”

People interested in donating can click here: https://portal.ncnurses.org/donate-now

Nurses are a vital part of the healthcare system, but surveys have shown that they often feel taken for granted. An important goal of this campaign is to highlight that a weather disaster is yet another challenge in a long list of issues already straining the nursing profession: the coronavirus pandemic, a nursing shortage, increased workplace violence, and worrisome burnout rates, to name a few.

Under normal circumstances, NCFN raises money primarily to fund scholarships for nursing students. For a limited time, however, all money collected by NCFN will be diverted to the NCFN – Nurse Recovery Fund and given directly to the nurses in need. NCNA is donating all of the staff time required to administer the program.

NCNA was able to mobilize its Helene response quickly, using the infrastructure it has already established six years ago in the wake of Hurricane Florence. That 2018 campaign generated more than $25,000 that NCNA and NCFN distributed directly to more than 130 nurses in the southeastern part of the state. Donations to this special fund will be distributed to actively-licensed Registered Nurses in North Carolina who have been impacted by Helene based on a sliding scale of needs.

Click here for more information and to donate.

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ABOUT NCNA
As the leading professional organization for North Carolina’s registered nurses, we equip nurses at all stages to thrive in an ever-changing healthcare environment. NCNA helps keep North Carolina nurses on the cutting edge of nursing practice, policy, education, and more. Join us as we work to advance nursing and ensure high-quality healthcare for everyone.

Established in 1902, NCNA provides continuing education, networking and legislative advocacy for registered nurses throughout North Carolina. For more information, please visit www.ncnurses.org.

MISSION STATEMENT
The North Carolina Nurses Association serves the changing needs of its members, addresses nursing issues, and advocates for the health and well-being of all people.

Nurses are being cheered around the world for their courage, compassion, and hard work fighting the coronavirus. We should always celebrate Nurses, especially now. 

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, "As you know, during the COVID-19, they're in the front line and they're risking their lives to save others, but not only during COVID-19. Nurses are a bridge between the health system and the community and they have been doing so ever since the Nursing profession actually started."

While we really can't ever thank Nurses enough, here are ways we can express appreciation for them.

1)    Stay Home - The most important way Nurses can be thanked is to stay home when they can.

2)    Continue Social Distancing - Don’t get too relaxed about following social distancing measures.

3)    Donate - Much needed professional grade masks or other PPE.

4)    Cards, Signs, Social Media Posts – get creative and do something locally or nationally.

5)    Gift Cards - Mary Babel, an RN in Jacksonville, FL suggests gift cards to restaurants that offer curbside pickup. Some people are donating gift cards for busy Nurses to buy their families food and some are donating gift cards to buy whole Nursing staff meals! 

6)    Care Packages – For local Nurses and Travel Nurses in over-stressed pandemic areas. To create a care package for Travel Nurses, think small like portable door locks, external battery chargers, collapsible or travel size containers, individual snack size items, power bars, etc.

7)    Compression Socks - Can make a difference in soothing aches and preventing swelling. It’s a gift that truly keeps on giving as 1 pair can last a long time providing many comfortable shifts.

8)    Cell Phone Sanitizer - According to Nurse.org, cell phone sanitizer is a 100% practical gift. Nurses can sanitize their contaminated cell phones and have one less thing to worry about as a possible source of infection.

We all like to feel we’re appreciated. Now is a great time to show all Nurses our appreciation. 

From car rental companies to sports apparel makers, organizations across the country have shifted operations to support health care workers in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Hertz provided $2 million in free vehicle rentals to more than 2,000 healthcare workers in New York City. 

A Physician Assistant, working in an ICU in the Bronx, said "I work 12.5 and 24 hour shifts, taking care of the sickest COVID-19 patients in our hospital. A lot of us are working overtime, picking up shifts for sick colleagues, traveling to hospitals further away because they're in need. Hertz really made our ability to get to work much easier and safer so that we have more mental, emotional and physical energy to care for our patients.”

Diamond-managed properties around the world are also giving medical personnel and first responders a free place to stay while they work on the front lines of the crisis.

"Like many, we have been looking for ways to help," Diamond Resorts said. "We realized we are in a unique position to provide accommodations that are particularly well-suited for social distancing."

The company's suites are larger than typical hotel rooms with the majority including full, in-suite kitchens with refrigerators, ovens and stoves, full bathrooms and laundry facilities, according to Diamond Resorts.

Fanatics produces jerseys for Major League Baseball and announced it will halt production of jerseys to make nonsurgical-grade, single-use masks and gowns for Doctors, Nurses and healthcare personnel on the frontline battling the virus.

Michael Rubin, the company's chairman said, "This unprecedented public health emergency has compelled our country to be more collaborative, innovative and strategic than ever before. As the demand for masks and gowns has surged, we're fortunate to have teamed up with Major League Baseball to find a unique way to support our front-line workers in this fight to stem the virus, who are in dire need of critical supplies."

Bauer Hockey traditionally produces hockey equipment, some of which includes plastic face masks for helmets. The company thought it would make sense to produce bigger plastic face shields for doctors and nurses using similar materials. 

Bauer vice president of global marketing Mary-Kay Messier said, "Nurses and Doctors are pleading for these masks, and they aren't waiting for their institutions to get them to them. The fact that these people are going to work every day, risking their lives and don't ever think about it but don't have the equipment to protect themselves is unacceptable."

Airbnb launched a global initiative to help health care professionals, relief workers and first responders. The company hopes to help house about 100,000 workers on the front lines. Airbnb will waive all fees for stays. 

“Medical workers and first responders are providing lifesaving support during the coronavirus outbreak and we want to help,” Airbnb’s co-founder Joe Gebbia said. “We’ve heard from countless hosts around the world who want to provide a comforting home to heroic first responders. We are connecting our nonprofit partners, government agencies and others with our incredible host community to work together in these extraordinary times.”

Brooks Running donated 10,000 pairs of shoes to health care workers on the front lines of the pandemic.

"If you’re part of the healthcare community responding to COVID-19, we want to make your work a little more comfortable with a free pair of shoes. It’s our way of saying thank you for all you do," the company posted on Instagram earlier this month. 

Another shoe company, Crocs, is also donating shoes. The company is working to donate 10,000 pairs of shoes a day to those on the front lines of the battle against the pandemic. The company already has more than 40,000 people in line for a pair. 

Dr. Scholls Wellness Company is donating $1.3 million in insoles to support health care workers. This includes 100,000 pairs of Dr. Scholl’s Massaging Gel Work insoles, which the company says reduces muscle fatigue and also absorbs shock. The company plans to send donations to hospitals across the country, especially those in hot spots.

Until May 31, Starbucks will be giving a free tall brewed coffee to anyone one identifies as a first responder or front line worker supporting our healthcare system. This includes police officers, firefighters, paramedics, doctors, nurses, hospital and medical staff, and medical researchers. 

In these trying times, it’s comforting to see by action and commitment, that we are all in this together. Giving back, in any way, with even the smallest acts of kindness has a significant impact on our personal and professional wellbeing. Thank you to all the Nurses, Healthcare workers, and companies helping our medical teams, for all you do to keep us safe and healthy. You confirm our belief that there are wonderfully thoughtful and committed people in this world that truly care.