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LEWISTOWN - Even at an early age, Mackenzie Copenhaver knew she wanted to be a nurse when she grew up.
She was the kind of kid who'd have traded all her dolls to play doctor - unless of course she could treat them like patients or perhaps pretend to put them under the knife. When she got older, playtime turned into more definitive career aspirations.
"From the time I was in kindergarten, I always knew nursing was the career path that I planned to take," said Mackenzie, who works as a registered nurse at Lewistown-Geisinger Hospital. "I was exposed to nursing my entire childhood through my mom and gram, who were both nurses at Lewistown Hospital."
Mackenzie is a third-generation nurse, who works in the intermediate care unit.
Her mother, Tammy, a nurse in same-day surgery, also works in the same building.
"I was drawn to nursing because I have a passion to help and care for others," Mackenzie said.
This week, the Copenhavers and thousands of other nurses across the country, are being recognized for their dedication to serve during National Nurses Week, which is May 6-12.
In 1982, the first National Recognition Day for Nurses was celebrated. By 1990, the American Nurses Association expanded the one day to cover a full week. The annual observance has special meaning for those who work in healthcare, including the Copenhavers.
"My favorite part about being a nurse is making an impact on my patients' lives," Mackenzie explained. "There is nothing more humbling than when my patients tell me that I had an impact on them and made their day better."
Tammy agreed that nursing is filled with rewards.
Tammy said, "Nursing gives you the satisfaction of knowing that you're helping people and making a difference in their lives."
But their work in healthcare has also helped the mother-daughter duo strengthen that bond as well.
"My mom and I have always had a strong relationship, but being able to work in the same field and building has made our bond even stronger," Mackenzie explained. "On my hard days at work, she is my person I talk to because she can understand and relate to those struggles. She's my number one support system."
While inspiring her daughter's career path, Tammy also reaped the rewards. "I helped Mackenzie study for nursing exams, while she was in school," Tammy said. "It was a learning experience for me because a lot had changed in 28 years."
Tammy's career in healthcare started years ago when she served as a secretary in human resources. She was drawn to nursing after working closely with the nursing teams and being influenced by their careers.
"Even though we don't work in the same department or the same shift, we always make it a priority to meet up in the morning as I'm coming to work and Mackenzie is heading home," Tammy said. "I always ask her if she had a good night, and she asks if I had a good day.
"If not, we talk a little about it, then we let it go," she added. "Because in nursing every day brings something new. She makes the hard days better."
Celebrated between May 6, National Nurses Day, and May 12, the birth date of celebrated nurse Florence Nightingale, Nurses Week
serves as a chance to reflect on our nurses' contributions and dedication to a profession that's as challenging as it is rewarding.