HEALTH: ER NURSES HONORED WEDNESDAY

Nurses generally feel rewarded for their work just by knowing they helped someone in need, but they won't turn down flowers and free pizza, either.

A festive mood hung over the emergency rooms at two Cape Girardeau hospitals Wednesday as staff members and well-wishers celebrated Emergency Room Nurse Day.

Hospital officials and people off the street showered the emergency room nurses with a variety of surprises, including flowers, balloons, candles, cake, candy, pizza, popcorn and lunch.

Pat Pennington, nurse manager in the emergency room of Southeast Missouri Hospital, said the nurses enjoyed being honored Wednesday.

"The nurses were very pleased and flattered with the attention they received today," she said.

"Nurses in general, and especially emergency room nurses, find their rewards in their job and their performance, but this has been a special day being recognized."

Marcia Abernathy, director of emergency services at St. Francis Medical Center, said St. Francis officials provided food for the emergency room nurses there and surprised each shift of emergency room nurses with a cake.

Abernathy thought the special attention for the emergency room nurses was a good idea.

"These folks are on the front line, in the trenches, 24-7," she said. "They're a lot like your firefighters, first responders and police."

Abernathy said, "I think it's something the public takes for granted, that there are people there to take care of them. It's just through sheer dedication that these people stay with it as long as they do because it's a real stressful job."