Five Questions and Answers About Nurses Day

Mindy on April 27, 2012

To understand the who, what, and why of Nurses Day on May 6th in the U.S.  (Nurses Week is held annually May 6-12), we need to start with Florence Nightingale.

“It may seem a strange principle to enunciate
as the very first requirement in a hospital
that it should do the sick no harm.”
—–Florence Nightingale , the “Lady with the Lamp”

Briefly, Englishwoman Florence Nightingale was a volunteer nurse with the British Army during the Crimean War in the 1850s. Nightingale campaigned on behalf of better care and conditions for the men, and better sanitation and nutrition, and established the foundation of professional nursing with her nursing school in London. National Nurses Week ends on her birthday.

To put you further in the know about the medical professionals who make a difference in so many lives each day, here are Five Questions and Answers About Nurses Day:

When Did the Official Observance of Nurses Day Begin? Dorothy Sutherland, an official with the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, in 1953 proposed a “Nurses Day” celebration but it wasn’t approved by President Eisenhower. However, in 1974, President Nixon proclaimed “National Nurses Week,” and in 1982, Congress approved “National Recognition Day for Nurses” which became Nurses Day.

How Many Nurses Work in the United States? According to the U.S. Department of Labor, about 3.1 million licensed registered nurses are employed along with approximately 728,000 licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses, and 1.5 million healthcare aides.

What Do People Do to Celebrate Nurses Day? Celebrations include parties and receptions, recognition ceremonies and proclamations, as well as giving gifts such as flowers or gift certificates. Greeting cards given by friends, family, and co-workers is a large part of the holiday.

What is the Florence Nightingale Pledge? A modified form of the Hippocratic Oath sworn by doctors, the Florence Nightingale Pledge was composed by Lystra Gretter and a Committee for the Farrand Training School for Nurses, Detroit, Michigan, in 1893, and named in honor of the founder of modern nursing.

Why Do We Celebrate Nurses Day? To foster awareness of the vitally important role nursing professionals play in the healthcare industry. Nurses bring care and comfort to millions of lives each year. Their contributions to quality healthcare, and their commitment and dedication to their profession, is worthy of recognition.

Recognizing the role played by RNs, LPNs, LVNs, CNAs, and healthcare aides and choosing a custom Nurses Day paper greeting card has never been easier. The variety of one-of-a-kind designs created by our international artists has one thing in common: they all say “thanks” to the people who help others every day of the year.

What Are People Saying About Greeting Card Universe?
“I feel a little silly sending a thank you testimonial each time I purchase cards, but I’m so impressed with the service each time I do so that I can’t resist. Thank you for always having such a huge, unique and complete inventory. Thank you for shipping so promptly and packaging so well. Thank you for saving me the trouble of shopping anywhere else for greeting cards. Your company is #1 as far as I’m concerned!” Greg, Jamul, California, April 24, 2012

Five Firsts For Tax Day

Mindy on April 14, 2012

It’s mid-April, and we all know what that means, don’t we?

“I’m proud to be paying taxes in the United States.
The only thing is, I could be just as proud for half the money.”
—–Arthur Godfrey

For Americans, Tax Day isn’t exactly a holiday. It falls annually on April 15, the deadline to file U.S. federal income tax returns. When the date falls on a weekend (like this year) or an official federal holiday, the deadline is extended to the next business day. Which means in 2012, tax returns are due on April 17th.

To cheer you up while you wrestle with the forms and figures – it’s estimated that Americans as a whole spend 7.6 billion hours on their taxes – here are Five Firsts for Tax Day:

First U.S. Federal Income Tax: The United States government passed the Revenue Act in 1861 due to the start of the Civil War, which would eventually cost an estimated $2.5 million per day. The Act lapsed after the end of the war, but in 1913, Congress passed the 16th Amendment to the Constitution, allowing the federal government to levy taxes.

First Whistleblower to Pocket a Reward: From the IRS website – “The IRS Whistleblower Office pays money to people who blow the whistle on persons who fail to pay the tax that they owe. If the IRS uses information provided by the whistleblower, it can award the whistleblower up to 30 percent of the additional tax, penalty and other amounts it collects.” The first whistleblower to claim a reward under this program, first set up in 2006, received $4.5 million.

First Federal Tax Code: One of the things to come out of the Revenue Act of 1913 was a federal tax code – all 400 pages of it. Nowadays, the federal tax code rounds up to a stunning 70,000 pages!

First Federal Income Tax Form: Another innovation for the forward-thinking government of 1913 – the pre-printed federal income tax form. Form 1040 was four pages + one page of instructions. Taxpayers used the included tables to calculate their liability themselves. The draft of the form was created by a woman, Nina Wilcox Putnam, an author, screen-writer, and yes, an accountant. Today, more than 480 different tax forms are available.

First U.S. President to File Federal Income Tax: President Warren G. Harding in 1923 became the first American president to file a federal income tax return. He owed $18,000.

Greeting Card Universe’s collection of custom Tax Day cards lets you commiserate with a friend, give a family member a much-needed smile at a stressful time, or send a timely reminder to your clients.

What Are People Saying About Greeting Card Universe?
“The cards I have purchased are great! They are so fitting for the occasion and the people receiving them have been very complimentary. The service is fine and I will continue to buy from Greeting Cards all year long.” Nell D. Hallisey, April 7, 2012

Admin Professionals Day

Mindy on April 7, 2012

What happens on the fourth Wednesday in April every year? Administrative Professionals Day! The unofficial holiday is observed by approximately 70% of businesses world-wide as a time to honor admin professionals, admin support, and office workers for their contributions to the workplace.

No one who achieves success
does so without acknowledging the help of others.
The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.
—Author Unknown

What do you know about Admin Professionals Day? Here are some Fun Facts about this holiday…

FACT: The holiday was created by Harry F. Klemfuss, a New York publicist, who handled the Dictaphone Corporation account for the Young & Rubicam advertising agency. He wanted to persuade more women to enter the workplace, and believed secretaries deserved more recognition. Working with the National Secretaries Association, he proposed the idea of Secretary’s Day to Charles Sawyer, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, and in 1952, the first Secretary’s Day was celebrated.

FACT: Originally Secretary’s Day, then changed to Professional Secretaries Day in 1981, the holiday became Administrative Professionals Day in 2000. The changes were made by the International Association of Administrative Professionals, once known as the National Secretaries Association.

FACT: In the United States alone, more than 4 million administrative professionals are employed + an additional nearly 9 million support staff!

FACT: Admin Professionals Day is one of the largest workplace celebrations  in the world.

FACT: The most popular tokens of appreciation given on Admin Professionals Day by executives to their support staff? Flowers and greeting cards, followed by lunch on the company, gift certificates, or a day off.

FACT: Greeting Card Universe helps you celebrate and show your appreciation with our vibrant and unique collection of custom Administrative Professionals Day cards. It’s never been easier to find the perfect card to say “thank you” to the people who make a difference in the workplace.

What Are People Saying About Greeting Card Universe?
“I was so pleased to have found these cards for a family member newly diagnosed with cancer. The option of editing the wording specific for the intended recipient is a feature I have never seen. The cards came quickly and looked to be the same quality as any Hallmark card! I would definitely recommend this company!” — Brie, April 6, 2012