Signal Tribune Newspaper

Local Red Cross nurses were honored as “critically important volunteers” at a recent board meeting.

At its recent monthly board meeting, the Greater Long Beach Chapter of the American Red Cross honored the 100th anniversary of American Red Cross nursing by presenting Red Cross nurses Maureen Habel, Harriet Weisenberger, Ann Kim, Almadean Gillespie, Melody Coffey-Love, Heddy Neimeyer, Joann Whallen, and Norma Levandusky certificates recognizing their services.
“Our nurses are critically important volunteers,” said Greg Pierson, chairman of the board of directors for the chapter. “From flu clinics to health fairs and in shelters during disasters, their services are essential to our success.
CEO Nancy Kindelan said, “The Red Cross would be a very different organization without the support of our nurses, starting with Clara Barton.”
The Red Cross Nursing Service was formally established by Jane Delano in 1909. For the past century, Red Cross nursing has had a major role in the historical evolution of nursing and nursing leadership in the United States, with many Red Cross nurses playing strategic roles in the development of the nursing profession.
Today, nurses serve in many specialty roles such as Disaster Health Services, Senior Mobile Nursing, Health Fairs, Senior Flu Clinics, Biomedical and International Services. They continue to play vital roles in their own communities and around the world by providing professional expertise and leadership in the mobilization of community health resources to provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.
As in the past, nurses serve in leadership roles at the local, state and national level to promote and enhance the Red Cross humanitarian mission and to promote public health and safety. Student nurses also are involved in many aspects of local service delivery such as the Cal State University, Long Beach nursing program.
“Our nurses do such wonderful work, and we need more certified nurses to help volunteer and further our mission,” said Lakia Pearson, director of Volunteer and Youth Services.
Those interested in volunteering as a Red Cross nurse should call (562) 490-4014 or visit www.redcrosslb.org for an application and a description of current opportunities.