St. Luke’s night nursing staff gets a surprise bash
Party City partnered with hospitals to support medical personnel
When staff nurse Anne Voltin saw the crowd of people holding balloons in the lobby at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center on Wednesday morning, she froze — mainly out of habit.
To kick off National Nurses Week Wednesday, representatives from Party City and the hospital were handing out heart-shaped, foil balloons to medical staffers as they left the building.
“I’m the person who hates when people sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to me,” Voltin said. “But it was awesome, I appreciated that people were there and cheering.”
It was early, around 7:15 a.m on May 6; Voltin’s night shift had just ended and National Nurses Day celebrations were getting underway. She snapped a photo of her ruby red balloon and texted it to her family. “That’s the color hearts should be. As a cardiac nurse, if I saw a blue or yellow heart I’d be concerned.”
Voltin, 25 and a Texas A&M College of Nursing School alum, typically works in Baylor St. Luke’s Coronary Care Unit. Though for the last five weeks, she’s been working in the hospital’s COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit.
“I volunteered for it,” she said. “I chose to dive into the deep end. It’s been a learning experience and something that’s opened my eyes to a lot
of different things. I’ve grown from it, but I’d never wish it — or this virus — on anybody.”
David Jones, Party City’s regional manager, has two nurses in his family. “I know the sacrifice they put in as far as dedication and time,” he said. “They’re out there doing things for us while we’re staying at home and staying safe.”
The company partnered with select hospitals nationwide to honor night nurses. “A lot of time night nurses aren’t really seen by family,” Jones said. “They take care of patients behind the scenes.”
While Party City has closed its brick and mortar locations during the coronavirus pandemic, stores have continued to help customers plan events in nontraditional ways. Nocontact delivery and shipping options have ensured that birthdays, graduations and family gatherings don’t go uncelebrated.
Surprising nurses with balloons is just another way to keep people smiling.
“Most of them were just kind of shocked, but a lot of them stopped and partied with us,” Jones said.
Veronica Martin Posley, vice president of Nursing Practice, estimated that 150 nurses and patient care technicians were acknowledged at the celebration. They’re unsung heroes, she said.
“I’ve been in nursing leadership for almost 25 years and try to be mindful that care is a 24/7 business within the hospital organization,” Posley said. “It’s essential to show how much we value our bedside clinicians.”
Their surprise party went off without a hitch.
“To see their faces and that genuine sense of ‘oh my goodness!’ — it was really a heartfelt day,” she said.