Special to Iredell Free News

RALEIGH — Gov. Roy Cooper has issued a proclamation honoring North Carolina Nurses with a week dedicated to their important work. Cooper declared the week of May 6–12, 2020, as North Carolina Nurses Week.

North Carolina’s registered nurses are dedicated health care professionals sacrificing every day to save lives and care for people in hospitals, long term care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and other medical settings.

The week acknowledges the essential role of registered nurses in the lives of North Carolina families, communities, and individuals who are depending on them now more than ever. There are nearly 120,000 registered nurses in the state of North Carolina who are bravely working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 epidemic.

“Even under normal circumstances, nurses have tough jobs with long, tiring shifts. It takes so much strength, skill and compassion to be a nurse, and I am thankful for our dedicated nurses who are making great sacrifices and saving lives every day, but especially during this pandemic,” Cooper said.

The governor expressed his appreciation for N.C. nurses this week in a thank you video celebrating the week.

“Nurses are my heroes! Watching and listening to my mom talk about her work as a nurse practitioner is what inspired me to pursue a career in health care. I want to thank all of the nurses who give so much of themselves to care for others,” added Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

See the proclamation.

Due to COVID-19 crisis the demand for registered nurses has increased, if you are a North Carolina Nurse or other health care professional seeking to volunteer please visit terms.ncem.org/TRS/.