IN RECOGNITION OF THE BIRTHDAY OF WORLD FAMOUS FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE, THIS WEEK HAS BEEN DESIGNATED INTERNATIONAL NURSING WEEK.

 -LAURIE DUBE, DIRECTOR OF INPATIENT MEDICINE :

"NURSES ARE PRETTY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY'RE PROBABLY THE ONE CATEGORY STAFF THAT SPENDS THE MOST TIME REALLY WITH THE PATIENT, HANDS ON AT THE BEDSIDE.

SO, THEY'RE NOT ONLY PROVIDING THAT PERSONAL CARE, BUT THEY'RE ALSO ASSESSING THE CLIENT.')

DIANE BOWEN, A NURSE EDUCATOR AT BROCKVILLE GENERAL HOSPITAL IS NO STRANGER TO THE FIELD.

SHE'S BEEN NURSING FOR 32 YEARS, AND SAY'S IT'S A CAREER THAT ALWAYS KEEPS HER ON HER TOES.

BOWEN SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT THAT CANADIANS RE-EXAMINE THEIR PERCEPTION OF THE NURSING PROFESSION.

BOWEN:

"WE ARE A TEAM, YOU HAVE TO BE.

NURSES HOURS ARE 12 HOURS USUALLY. A LOT OF TIMES THE GIRLS STAY LATE TO DO THINGS.

THE NURSES ARE VERY CARING AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'VE DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE THEY CAN FOR THEIR PATIENT BEFORE THEY GO HOME.")

- DUBE:

"IT'S NOT JUST HOSPITAL NURSING, BUT COMMUNITY, MENTAL HEALTH.')

STACEY FEIG, RN:

"YOU FEEL AT THE END OF THE DAY LIKE YOU'VE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEBODY'S LIFE, EVEN IF IT'S JUST A LITTLE THING THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR THEM.')

WHILE THERE ARE CURRENTLY OVER 300 NURSES ON THE TEAM AT BGH THE HOSPITAL IS STILL SHORT BY ABOUT 30 PERCENT.

DUBE SAYS RECRUITMENT IS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER.

 DUBE:

"SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS ARE OVER 52. AND SO, AS RETIREMENT IS NEARING, WE'LL REALLY BE LOOKING TO REPLACE THAT STAFF.

SO FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO TAKE ON THE NEW GRAD GRANTEE AND THE INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY.")

DUBE SAYS DIVERSIFYING THE FIELD WILL ALSO HELP FILL SHORTAGES.

WESLEY FULTON IS A STUDENT PRACTICAL NURSE.

- FULTON:

"BEING A MALE YOU'RE HARD WIRED A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT YOU BRING SOMETHING ELSE TO THE TEAM. THAT'S WHY I THINK SOME MALES SHOULD DEFIANTLY CONSIDER NURSING AS AN OTHER VENTURE. I SEE THE DEDICATION AND HARD WORK THAT EVERYONE THAT'S PART OF THE HEALTH CARE TEAM PUTS IN, AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DEFIANTLY DESERVING OF BEING CELEBRATED EVERYDAY.")

BGH IS HOLDING ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK TO SHOW IT'S APPRECIATION TO THE NURSES WHO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES EVERYDAY.

ASHLEY MOLNAR, CKWS NEWSWATCH, BROCKVILLE.