05-07-26 Commissioners Issue Proclamation For National Nurses Week (Photo) - 05/07/26
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2026
Commissioners Issue Proclamation for National Nurses Week
(Douglas County, Ore.) The Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Tom Kress, Chris Boice, and Tim Freeman, issued a proclamation today at the Weekly Business Meeting calling upon all citizens of Douglas County to observe May 6-12, 2026, as "National Nurses Week" in Douglas County. The proclamation was presented by Chris Boice on behalf of the Board, who noted the proclamation also carried personal significance, stating, “My son Allen had just graduated nursing school this past Saturday.” A copy of the live video presentation can be found on the Douglas County Government Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DouglasCountyeGovernment.
“This week is time to celebrate and recognize the hard work, dedication, and compassion of our nursing professionals. Professionally trained nurses hold a unique place in America’s healthcare system as a member of the largest healthcare profession, the nation’s nurses work in diverse settings and fields and are frontline providers of healthcare services.” stated Commissioner Kress.
This week the Commissioners celebrated the men and women of Douglas County that have chosen to serve others in the nursing profession. Professionally trained nurses hold a unique place in the American health care system. As members of the largest health care profession, the nation’s nurses work in diverse settings and fields and are frontline providers of health care services. While most nurses work in acute-care settings such as hospitals, nurses’ expertise and skills extend well beyond hospital walls. Millions of Americans turn to nurses for delivery of primary health care services, health care education. and health advice and counseling. Nursing continues to be an indispensable service, and nurses are the critical link in maintaining our entire health care system.
Commissioner Kress presented Nurse Appreciation Week proclamation certificates to nurses and administrators from CHI Mercy Medical Center, Aviva Health Care, Umpqua Health Alliance, UCAN’s Nurse Home Visiting Program, Roseburg VA Hospital, Umpqua Community College – Nursing Program and Douglas County Sheriff’s Office – Corrections Division. Joining us today were: CHI Mercy: Holly Cook (Chief of Nursing) Aviva: Jess Freeman RN, Dani Christensen RN UCAN: Rachelle McDonald Rn, Elise Hansen RN, Ashley Pittam Hays RN; VA: Nikol Hansen, Holly Hutchings; UCC: Heidi Gallego, Leesa Sterner, Mary Barron, Emily Allen, Rose Diou; DSCO – Corrections Division: Undersheriff Brad O’Dell, Lt. Clayton Ruble, Jodi Fassler RN and Tennille Redmond RN.
“I’m excited to have you guys here, like I said my son Allen had just graduated at George Fox University with his RN and is going to start looking for a job here. Thank you guys for what you guys do, we are excited for Allen’s future and grateful for the works you guys do.” commented Commissioner Boice.
The Commissioners invited a few of the participants to speak about the recognition and their work in nursing:
CHI Mercy Medical Center: Holly Cook, Chief of Nursing
“I just want to say thank you, first off, for this proclamation and the recognition of nursing, I find that it is a team sport, healthcare specifically, and I'm so proud of the team of nursing and all of those that support nursing, and especially here in Douglas County, it is a privilege to be able to care for the family and friends that make up Douglas County.”
UCAN Home Nurse Program – Elise Hansen, RN – Program Manager
“I want to thank the commissioners for your proclamation. I also want to thank you for your generous support and for funding some of the programs that we run. Your support is making a difference in the lives of families in Douglas County. So, our nurses get to see babies when they're first born and help set families in Douglas County off on the right foot, and it's making a tremendous impact.”
Roseburg VA– Holly Hutchings – Nurse Recruiter
“Thank you for recognizing us nurses. And everyone in this room is impacted by a nurse or a veteran, and I am representing the VA. So, your support recognizing us nurses helps us continue recognizing and helping our veterans and caring for our veterans.”
Aviva Health – Jess Freeman, RN
“Nursing can be incredibly physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting, and it is an absolute honor to walk alongside our community members. Whether that is acute or chronic conditions, we get to be there to support them in some of their best days and some of their worst days. So, thank you, Commissioners for taking the time to recognize and appreciate and publicize that this is a very heartfelt job that we are so lucky to get to do in this county.”
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office – Corrections Division – Jodi Fassler, RN/Health Servies Admin
“If you want to know about a disease, you talk to a doctor. If you want to know about a disease and a person, you talk to a nurse. So, we really appreciate being recognized and us at the Douglas County Jail feel that we perform a very Valuable service and that we're caring for patients that often don't receive medical care at all. So, we have helped diagnose some patients and we have saved some lives because their illness has gone unrecognized. So, we really appreciate being recognized, because we feel that all nurses take the time to listen to people and care for that person.”
Douglas County has approximately 1,500 dedicated Nursing professionals as a part of our local workforce, as well as a robust and highly regarded Nursing Education Program at Umpqua Community College. This proclamation is a reminder to our citizens to take the time to thank our nurses, and offer them our sincere gratitude, unyielding support and utmost respect to those whose contribution and sacrifice to our local workforce is paramount in sustaining a healthy community for all to live, work, and play.
Media Contact: Kai Rodriguez | Public Affairs Specialist | Douglas County Public Affairs Office | (541) 440-4493 office | (541) 391-2092 cell | kai.rodriguez@douglascountyor.gov
Photo Credit: K.Rodriguez/Douglas County
