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It is the time of year when we can take time to celebrate and honor what nurses do. National Nurses Week is a way of giving back and letting them know how proud we are of their services. They dedicate themselves to helping others. They are the backbone of the healthcare industry. They are often viewed just as Florence Nightingale, Heroes. Nurses have many roles, all with different challenges both in clinical and non clinical areas. Their commitment to providing care to people in need on a daily basis 365 days a year, should be recognized. That recognition comes in the form of celebrating National Nurses Week.
Nurses should take time to celebrate each other and all that their profession requires of them. There is also a National School Nurse Day. Which started in 2003 and falls on the Wednesday within our recognized week every year.
If you are interested in hearing about how it all began, here’s a brief history below:
1953 – Dorothy Sutherland of the US Department of Health Education, and Welfare sent a letter to President Eisenhower asking to proclaim a “Nurse Day” in October of the following year. That was never done.
1954- National Nurses Week was observed from October 11-16. The year of the observance marked the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingales mission to Crimea.
Representative Frances Bolton sponsored the bill for a nurse week.
A bill for a National Nurses Week was introduced to Congress in 1955. No action was taken. Congress stopped its practice of joint resolutions for national weeks of various kinds.
1972- A proposal was submitted again by the House of Representatives to the President of the United States to proclaim a “National Registered Nurse Day” Again, this did not happen.
1974– The International Council of Nurses proclaimed that May 12 would be “International Nurse Day” (May 12 is the birthday of Florence Nightingale) The International Council of Nurses has been celebrating International Nurses Day since 1965.
In February 1974 a week was designated by the White House as National Nurses Week. By President Nixon.
1978– NJ Governor Brendon Byne declared May 6 as “Nurses Day”. Edward Scanlon of NJ took up the cause to recognize nurses in his state. Mr. Scanlon had this date listed in Chase Calendar of Annual Events.
1981- ANA along with many other nursing organizations, rallied to support a resolution initiated by nurses in New Mexico, through their congressman, Manuel Lujan, to have May 6, 1982 established as “National Recognition Day for Nurses”
1982– In February of 1982 the ANA Board of Directors formally acknowledged May 6, 1982 as “National Nurses Day” In turn the United States Congress designated May 6 as “National Recognition Day for Nurses”
1982– President Ronald Regan signed a proclamation on March 25 proclaiming “National Recognition Day for Nurses “to be May 6th 1982.
1990– The ANA Board of Directors designated May6-12 as permanent dates to celebrate and recognize National Nurses Week in 1994 and in all subsequent years.
1996- The ANA initiated “National RN Recognition day” on May 6, 1996, to honor the nations indispensable RNs for their tireless commitment 365 days a year.
1997- The ANA Board of Directors, at the request of the National Students Association designated May 8th as Nation Student Nurses day.
In conclusion, I would like to say Happy Nurses week to all of my hard working wonderful nurses out there. Words cannot express how much we appreciate all of you!
