USA Health celebrates Nurses Week 2025
With nearly 3,300 nurses employed by the health system, these caregivers advocate for patients and families, striving daily to fulfill our mission of helping people lead longer, better lives.
USA Health marked Nurses Week 2025 by celebrating the incredible contributions of the dedicated healthcare heroes who serve patients across the University of South Alabama’s academic health system. With nearly 3,300 nurses employed by USA Health – at three acute care hospitals, a cancer institute and dozens of physician practices – these caregivers advocate for patients and families, striving daily to fulfill our mission of helping people lead longer, better lives.
Here are some of the ways USA Health nurses were celebrated:
At Children’s & Women’s Hospital, nurses were treated to a variety of events including a breakfast, a pop-over party that featured a photo booth, popcorn and a Hollywood-inspired video presentation. Later in the week, nearly 30 nurses received clinical excellence awards, while members of the nurse leadership team were treated to lunch, among other activities.
“Each year during the week of May 12, we celebrate Nurse’s Week in honor of Florence Nightingale’s birthday. It is an opportunity to show how hard nurses work to help others lead longer, better lives,” said Sherry Fryman, DNP, MSN, RN, chief nursing officer for University Hospital. “In fact, nursing is the backbone of the hospital, so it’s important to take time to let them know how much they are appreciated and valued.”
At University Hospital and the Freestanding Emergency Department, nurses were celebrated with sweet treats, trivia games, word search activities, a scavenger hunt and more. The hospital also hosted a legal expert panel discussion and a nursing Olympics.
A vendor fair held May 5 on the Mastin Building lawn featured representatives from several organizations and businesses such as Topgolf, Saad Healthcare, Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, Dunkin’ and Bishop State Community College, among others. USA Health partners such as USA Health Spiritual Health and Counseling, USA Campus Recreation Center, USA College of Nursing and USA SouthNet were also on hand to provide resources.
On Friday, 21 nurses from University Hospital were recognized with Nurse Excellence Awards at an event at Magnolia Manor.
At the Mitchell Cancer Institute (MCI), with locations in Mobile and Baldwin counties, nurses were celebrated with daily lunches and special treats, including snow cones.
“Our oncology nurses at MCI have unwavering dedication, compassion, and skill that are at the heart of the care we provide,” said Theresa McLaughlin, RN, administrative director for the Mitchell Cancer Institute. “Each day, they meet patients at some of their most difficult moments and offer not just medical support, but humanity and hope.”
McLaughlin added: “Thank you for the essential work you do and the steady presence you bring to our team and our mission to fight cancer smarter. We truly could not do it without you.”
In west Mobile, Providence Hospital rolled out the red carpet to celebrate its nurses. The stars of the healthcare team were treated to a coffee and doughnut bar and a variety of other surprises throughout the week including prize drawings, Frios desserts, food trucks, a vendor fair, fashion show and Nurse Clinical Excellence Awards.
Nurses Week is all about thanking nurses for taking care of people during some of the most difficult times of their lives, said University Hospital’s Fryman. “We are proud of our amazing team and the compassion they show every day,” she said. “I am truly in awe of all the work they do.”
At the Strada Patient Care Center, and other clinics, staff members wrote about what makes their colleagues incredible, and dozens of those thoughts and photos were shared digitally on a “brag wall” among the staff of USA Health’s Physician Enterprise.
“We also helped host two vendor fairs, one at Providence and one at Strada, both with more than 20 vendors to help connect the staff to community resources, health, and wellness,” said Sarah Kahalley, RN, MSHA, chief nursing officer of USA Health’s Physician Enterprise. “We had more than 100 attendees for both events, which included raffle prizes and goodies.”
