Why National Nurses Week?

National Nurses Week is a time to celebrate and recognize the contributions of nurses to healthcare and society as a whole. It has a rich history dating back to the early 1950s, and has since become an important annual event for the nursing profession. The week-long event takes place every year from May 6th to May 12th, culminating on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. In this blog, we will take a closer look at the history of National Nurses Week and how it came to be. 

The first National Nurses Week was observed in the United States in 1954, marking the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale's mission to Crimea, where she and a team of nurses cared for wounded soldiers during the Crimean War. The event was proposed by Dorothy Sutherland, an official with the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and was later proclaimed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. 

However, it wasn't until 1974 that National Nurses Week became an official observance. In that year, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) designated May 12th, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, as International Nurses Day. The American Nurses Association (ANA) then expanded the celebration to a week-long event, and in 1982, May 6th was added as the beginning of National Nurses Week. 

Since then, National Nurses Week has been an annual event, providing an opportunity to honor and recognize the important role that nurses play in healthcare. The theme for the week changes each year, highlighting different aspects of nursing and the contributions that nurses make. The theme for 2023 is "Nurses Make a Difference Every Day." 

Throughout the years, National Nurses Week has become a time for hospitals, schools, and other healthcare organizations to hold special events and activities to show appreciation for nurses. It is also a time for nurses to reflect on their profession and the impact that they have on the lives of patients and their families. 

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