Red Cross Salutes Its Nurses During National Nurses Week

It’s National Nurses Week, a time set aside to focus attention on the many ways the nation’s registered nurses work to save lives and improve the health of millions. The American Red Cross recognizes the more than 15,000 nurses and student nurses who serve the organization today, volunteering their time and service to help others.

Nurses have been part of the American Red Cross for more than 125 years, helping during the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1888. Today nurses serve directly as part of Red Cross disaster response teams, at health fairs, volunteering in military clinics and hospitals, manning first aid stations and promoting blood donations.

Nurses also teach and help develop different courses like CPR and First Aid, Disaster Health Services, Nurse Assistant Training, Babysitting and Family Caregiving. They serve in management and supervisory roles in Red Cross chapters and blood regions and in leadership roles on local Red Cross boards and the national Board of Governors.

Recently, American Red Cross National Nursing Committee representatives met with their counterparts from the Canadian Red Cross to discuss what each organization’s nurses to do help communities today, and explore different possibilities based on programs in the two countries.

The highest honor of national nursing achievement in the American Red Cross is the Ann Magnussen Award, presented annually to a volunteer or employed registered nurse who has made an outstanding contribution to strengthening or improving Red Cross programs and services. This year the award was presented to Vivian Littlefield, PhD, RN, FAAN, of Madison, Wisconsin.

Littlefield has served the Red Cross for 25 years as member and then chair of the board of the American Red Cross Badger and South Central Wisconsin Region; interim executive director; member of the Wisconsin State Service Council and the North-Central Regional Committee; National Chair of Nursing and Chair of the National Nursing Committee; and currently Biomedical Nursing Chair.

While serving as interim chapter executive director she faced the challenges of unexpected additional recruiting, training and fundraising after 9/11. As National Chair of Nursing, Littlefield was again faced with the unexpected when organizational restructuring eliminated the Chief Nurse position. Taking on the Chief Nurse duties in addition to those of National Chair, she worked to ensure that nursing was supported and sustained and, most importantly, reinstated in the organization.

Her contributions to the Red Cross and to Red Cross nursing are boundless. Littlefield revitalized the National Nursing Committee by increasing membership diversity, including student nurse members. She brought new life to the State Nurse Leadership Network by increasing the number of states represented, clarifying roles and personally mentoring network leaders. She established and continues to chair the Nursing Heritage Program designed to reconnect with, recognize and increase participation and financial contributions from current and former Red Cross nurses.

If you are an RN or LPN/ LVN consider becoming a Red Cross volunteer. Student nurses are also welcome. Contact your local Red Cross to learn about volunteer openings in your community.