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Grand Forks AFB Nurses & Med Techs are Appreciated

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The 319th Medical Group gave thanks to an important segment of their unit by hosting a series of appreciation events in observance of this year's Nurse -Tech Week.

The week originates and coincides with National Nurses Week, which began on May 6 with National Nurses Day, and concluded on May 12 with the celebration of International Nurses Day and the birthday of Florence Nightingale - an English nurse who many consider the founder of modern nursing.

"This week-long celebration raises awareness of the value of nursing and helps educate the public about the role nurses play in meeting the health care needs of the American people," said Lt. Col. Paula Winters, 319th MDG chief nurse in a reading of a proclamation. "Along with our nurses, the Air Force also recognizes the special clinical abilities of our medical technicians, who work alongside us and greatly support and expand the nursing team."

Aside from the reading and signing of proclamations for the week, Day One also featured a spelling bee competition. Airman 1st Class Paul Ilagan, and Airman 1st Class Chelsea Leindecker squared-off and sounded out words that might even make some wordsmiths think twice before putting ink to paper.

In the end Ilagan won the competition by spelling "electroencephalogram," which is a test to measure the electrical activity of the brain.

"Oh that one was tough," said Ilagan. "It was almost as long as the alphabet."

Although the spelling bee provided Ilagan with the sweet taste of victory, there was plenty of sweetness to go around as guests and celebrants were treated to slices from a large cake of white whipped topping properly decorated with blue trim and an Air Force seal.

The sweet times continued for nurses and medical technicians as Day Two featured an ice cream social and ambulance static display.

"It was nice to have them (the medical group leadership) show their appreciation with an event like this," said medical technician Senior Airman Luis Sepulveda. "Having them put on the social reminded me of being a kid and my parents treating my siblings and I to ice cream as a reward for behaving or doing well in school."

Additional nourishment was provided for the medical staff and guests with a lunch and learn event on Day 3.

The calories from the first few days were burned off during the Ambulance Bay Games on Day 4. The games included a mummy toilet-paper wrapping contest and ping pong tossing challenge with cups.

The series of events came to a close with closing remarks and a potluck.

"We decided it would be fitting to end our week-long celebration with a potluck because it's symbolic of how wonderful things can be done when people come together and contribute their own part to make something into a reality," said 1st Lt. Brenda Homan, Nurse -Tech Week event coordinator. "That's basically what nurses and medical technicians do when we work alongside with our doctors other medical team members. We make great things happen for our patients and our communities, and that is something worth appreciating."