Western Governors University Salutes Nearly 11,000 Night Shift Nurses with Appreciation Kits
Staff will deliver more than 750 appreciation kits to more than 40 hospitals across 11 states
SALT LAKE CITY (Oct. 31, 2024) — Western Governors University (WGU) will honor and celebrate nearly 11,000 night shift nurses and other healthcare professionals across 11 states to acknowledge their extra hour on duty as daylight savings time ends on November 3.
While most will enjoy more rest when clocks roll back, nurses and other healthcare professionals on the night shift will have to work the 2 a.m. hour twice. In recognition of their selfless dedication, WGU staff will deliver more than 750 curated appreciation kits to more than 40 hospitals and healthcare facilities across Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.
“WGU’s Night Shift Nurse campaign is an initiative to thank the nurses and other healthcare professionals around us, not just because of the extra hour they spend caring for their patients when Daylight Saving Time ends, but for all the hours they dedicate to creating an impact on human life; they are the heart of our healthcare system,” said Anmy Mayfield, LSH vice president and dean for the College of Nursing. “These amazing professionals work tirelessly, and oftentimes, when we recover, we forget to thank them, but that doesn’t stop them from going above and beyond their duty every single time! I express a heartfelt thank you for your compassion, care, dedication, and unwavering service, that so often comes at the cost of your own personal sacrifices.”
The appreciation kits, which are personally delivered by WGU staff members, include medical scissors, retractable badge clips, pen lights, lip balms, eye masks and hand sanitizers. Those who receive items from the appreciation kits will have a chance to enter giveaway raffles for items such as Owala water bottles and Visa gift cards. The appreciation kits are the focal point of WGU’s annual Night Shift Nurse campaign.
As a part of the campaign, WGU is offering a special Night Shift Workers Scholarship, valued at up to $4,000, for current students or alumni looking to return to school and advance their careers. The deadline to apply is December 31, 2024.
Celebrating the vital contributions of nurses and other healthcare professionals highlights their critical role in ensuring the health and safety of our communities. In that spirit, WGU recently launched its Heartbeat of Healthcare Scholarship to support its registered nurse (RN) students joining the redesigned Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-to-BSN) and the bridge Master of Science in Nursing (RN-to-MSN) program at the Michael O. Leavitt School of Health (LSH). The $10 million investment, running through June 2025, aims to advance access to the university’s high-quality nursing program and address the demand for more baccalaureate and graduate nurses for improved patient care.
