Blog Contribution by NIHD President Kevin Meek RN-BSN, BA, MHI, EDAC, FACHE
As we kick off National Nurses Week 2025 (#ThePowerOfNurses), I remember back to my days as a Clinical Director and Chief Nursing Officer when I would talk to teams and ask them as we were getting ready to celebrate them during Nurses Week of what they would like to receive. Inevitably, and sadly, there was always one answer that came up: “Anything but pizza!”
“For the 23rd consecutive year, Americans ranked nurses the most trusted profession, according to Gallup” (Gallup 2025). But what’s interesting about this, is that the percentage of confidence has dropped by 5% since 2021 (81% to76%), while trust in Medical Doctors has dropped 14% to just 53%. This raises the question as to what is leading to this decline, and what can we do to turn it around.
I believe one factor related to this decrease in trust is in how we express our concerns to our patients over our working conditions and environment. As a caregiver, we all experienced a significant shift that began in the 1990’s and continues today – Patient Centered Care and the Patient Experience movement. While the patient-centered care concept dates back to the 1950’s, it had not been driven to the level of importance that we see in hospitals today until the last decade or so. Working as a CNO during this time, I regularly battled the pressures of shifting our focus to a fully engaged patient experience concept. Hospitals and non-acute settings hired Patient Experience liaisons, Patient Concierges, and the like to ensure that every need or want of our patients was being provided for – many times at the detriment of the caregivers providing the care.
So how do we as NIHD, or those working in the built environment space, help to change things for caregivers and offer something that will make a difference this Nurses Week? I believe what we can offer and celebrate this Nurses Week is something many nurses are asking for, something that research and data supports, and something that would show we value not just the work you do, but who you are as a nurse!
Current FGI Guidelines only provide “advisory” recommendations for respite spaces for caregivers and even state that these can be ‘shared’ with families and visitors – which we all know is not a reality in practice. When reviewing the Guidelines for Staff Support – Respite, the FGI Section reference states, “Not covered in FGI.”
What if this year for Nurses Week we worked to give nurses something they really want, something they really need, and something that research indicates leads to better patient outcomes and lower rates of nurse burnout? This year let’s begin the campaign for dedicated (not just recommended) respite space for caregivers on each floor of a facility, or a shared space between no more than 2 floors.
(image provided by Carolina)
This is not a staff lounge or break room, but a true respite room. Following the FGI language of a restorative break space, this area would “offer physical and mental respite for caregivers in a private space that is separated from excessive audiovisual stimulation and foot traffic (e.g., quiet room)”. This space could allow for 2-3 caregivers at a time to occupy the space with the sole purpose of restoring and replenishing themselves for the remainder of their shift.
There are a lot of good things happening to recognize and celebrate nurses this week in acute and non-acute settings across the country. From Daisy award ceremonies and staff recognitions to parties and evening galas, potlucks and maybe yes …even a pizza party. But next week, when those things are all over and nurses fade again into the backdrop of the healthcare landscape, what will remain for us to celebrate nurses for the other 51 weeks this year? Let’s celebrate them with a respite room that supports them in the work they do day in and day out!
And I would be remiss to not say thank you to my fellow nurses who were not just once a nurse, but who will always be a nurse, whether we are at the bedside or not, and who continue to work in making a difference in the lives of the patients we touch. At NIHD, we celebrate you!
Kevin Meek RN-BSN, BA, MHI, EDAC, FACHE
2025 NIHD President