Way to Go: Nurses Honor Guard

Published 5:50 pm Sunday, May 19, 2024

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During Nurses Week, Centra Southside Community Hospital made plans to start a Nurses Honor Guard which pays tribute to nurses at the time of their death. The service is similar to a military tribute and officially releases the nurse from their nursing duties. The Nurses Honor Guard dresses in the traditional white uniform complete with cap and cape. The ceremony is brief; it takes about five minutes, and consists of reciting the Nightingale Tribute and the laying of a white rose on the casket or next to the urn — symbolizing the nurse’s dedication to the profession. After the Nightingale Tribute is recited, the nurse’s name is called three times and a triangle is rung after each call of the name. Following the roll call words are spoken that the nurse is officially released from their nursing duties. A lit Nightingale lamp is carried up at the beginning of the ceremony and is then extinguished and presented to the family with personal condolences made. CSCH Professional Nursing Governance committee provided the funds to start this chapter. Pictured are, from right, Cheryl Knorpp, Lynn Owen, Tiffany Malave, Amy Randolph, Melissa Cawley Chambers, Claudia Meinhard, Janice Neil, Karne Shockley, Hannah Rose Spencer, Heather Irwin, Tiffany Daniel and Tiffany Abernathy. We salute all nurses for their vital work and caregiving and extend our thank you to all those involved in developing the local chapter of the Nurses Honor Guard. (Send “Way to Go!” photos with a description and names to WayToGo@FarmvilleHerald.com).

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