This week (May 6-12), the nation will celebrate both Public Service Recognition Week and National Nurses Week. More than 1,500 healthcare providers at the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) will have two reasons to celebrate, as they are both nurses and public servants.

Nurses like Christa Hubert, who says working with veterans is very rewarding:

For the last 16 years, Gallup has reported nursing to be the highest rated profession in terms of honesty and ethical standards.

In 1974, the International Council of Nurses proclaimed the birthday of Florence Nightingale, May 12, "International Nurse Day." Later that year President Nixon issued a proclamation designating National Nurse Week.

TVHS is an integrated tertiary health care system comprised of two hospitals, the Alvin C. York Campus in Murfreesboro and the Nashville Campus, as well as more than a dozen community-based outpatient clinics located in Tennessee and Kentucky.

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"Nurses are consistently ranked the most trusted professionals, and our nurses at TVHS are no exception to that!" said Jennifer Vedral-Baron, TVHS Health System Director. "We are grateful for all they do for our Veterans."

Nurses have helped TVHS earn various accolades, the most recent of which include the VA National Center for Patient Safety Gold Cornerstone Recognition, a "LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader" designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, and the silver Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

"I may be biased," said Vedral-Baron, who is also a retired U.S. Navy nurse. "However, I can objectively say we have a fantastic team of nurses delivering safe, compassionate care to more than 100,000 Veterans in southern Kentucky, Middle Tennessee and northern Georgia," she said.

In 1985, the Public Employees Roundtable created Public Service Recognition Week in honor of those who work in government, assisting Americans in need and advancing our national interests.

TVHS provides ambulatory care, primary care, and secondary care in acute medicine and surgery, specialized tertiary care, transplant services, spinal cord injury outpatient care, and a full range of extended care and mental health services.