We extend to all members’ best wishes and congratulations on your hard work as we celebrate NSRPH Week February 7-13, 2010.
Our profession continues to grow and evolve and this week is the perfect opportunity to promote our valuable role in health care.
Recreation staff across this province contributes daily to the lives of our clients in so many ways, whether administrating, direct programming, community outings, volunteer management or any other myriad of duties for which we are responsible for.
Our impact on our resident/clients lives are positive and empowering. I encourage you to use this special week not only to educate others about our role but also to take the time to give yourselves a hearty pat on the back for a job well done.
- Flora Edwards.
During the second full week of February 2010, we as Recreation Professionals in Health will be celebrating NSRPH week as an association and within our facilities. This week is an opportunity for recreation staff to promote our profession and our membership to other areas and people within the healthcare field.
There are so many ways to promote our profession and celebrate our week within our work environment that this list could be as endless as your imagination.
- Discussion groups, word puzzles and mental trivias, and theme contests or programs could be incorporated into the schedule of events to promote the week with your residents.
- Posters, collages, and promo stations could be set up in your facility’s lobby or designated recreation area or in community spaces to publicize our professional field and the NSRPH association to other healthcare professionals and/or outside visitors to the facility.
- Set up and/or initiate a promotional visit to local high schools or colleges to promote the profession and volunteer positions with the younger generations. Its never too early to get individuals interested in recreation.
- A tea social or special event could be scheduled with invitations to special dignitaries to help in the celebrations of NSRPH week.
- A generic informative article could be written up and submitted to your local papers to publicize the week and our profession to the communities which support our facilities.
- Departmental or Regional celebrations for NSRPH week could be planned to provide support and commendation for our staff, co-workers, and NSRPH members for each other’s dedication to the profession.
We, as Recreation staff in facilities across Nova Scotia, work hard each year to stimulate, support and rejuvenate our diverse population of clients and residents through programs, special events, one to one services, social outings and various other programs. Furthermore, our roles will often extend into volunteer programs and promotion, pastoral care groups and other miscellaneous means of support to our residents and clients. With time often running short through our days, it is not always easy to put out a promotional plug regarding our profession or job within or outside of our work environment. Therefore, from the 7th of February to the 13th of February, we have been given the chance to promote and educate all listening and non-listening ears about what we do, who we are, and what we love about our jobs as Recreation Professionals in Health.
Take up the opportunity to promote yourselves and your association this week. Make others aware of the job you do and the impact you have on the clients and residents you reach out to on a daily basis. Enjoy the tokens of appreciation you receive, whether they be big or small, whether they come from management, your fellow co-workers, or your own clients and/or residents. You are an integral piece of the Healthcare field puzzle and our profession will only continue to grow and thrive through the work we do and the messages we promote to all around us.
