This week is particularly special as we celebrate both National Hospital Week and National Nurses Week. Coming on the heels of Patient Experience Week, it gives us an opportunity to recognize the bond that we all share as healthcare professionals and to be proud of our ability to significantly impact the lives of our patients and the community.
And it’s during these times that I reflect on how amazing you are. Whether you are providing direct patient care or in support of others who provide patient care, you are all here every day for our patients — to care for them and enhance their quality of life. You show great dedication, expertise and perseverance in your support of our patients and our community. That support also extends to each other, and if there’s anything that we’ve learned in the past few years, it’s vitally important to know that we can depend on each other and share in our strength as a team.
At Stony Brook Medicine, we are committed to creating an environment that supports you. Recently, we have been sharing examples of how we’re listening to you and incorporating feedback to further a culture of respect throughout the organization, advocating on your behalf for pay increases and modifiying job requirements. We continue to introduce recognition programs and initiatives to demonstrate how much we value and appreciate your contributions.
Your personal safety is also of the utmost importance to us. The University Police Department has increased its staff, rounds regularly throughout the units and departments to provide important employee safety training, and police officers patrol 24/7 throughout the building. Soon, a new weapons detection system will be unveiled to provide additional safety and security measures for staff, faculty, patients and visitors.
In the coming months, we will share updates on our efforts regarding pay and staffing. We have made excellent strides to improve staffing levels, and in 2022, we achieved the greatest number of new hires over the past five calendar years. Just last month, we reached a new staffing milestone with 7,614 total employees.
There is much to celebrate during this week, and I hope you will join us at some of the scheduled events, which include the annual Florence Nightingale Awards Ceremony, gratitude rounds by leadership, ice cream events, T-shirt deliveries, wellness activities and the third annual Stony Brook’s Got Talent! virtual talent show. Visit ThePulse for the full schedule.
Happy Hospital Week and Happy Nurses Week to the Stony Brook Medicine family! Thank you for choosing to work here – you truly make a difference every day. I’m proud to work alongside you and extremely grateful for your contributions, which drive Stony Brook Medicine’s success and reputation to provide high-quality care.
Carol
I just want to take a moment to express my gratitude for all the added financial appreciation and the little things like new uniforms, t-shirts and breakfast events. I've worked a few places in my years. It's more common to have benefits taken away then it is to have them added. Thank you very much for the generosity and concern for employee well-being and morale.