The History of National Nurses Week
The Struggle
In 1953, Dorothy Sutherland of the federal department then known as the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare proposed a Nurse Day to the White House, but no proclamation was issued.
In 1954, a week in October was designated National Nurses Week to mark the 100-year anniversary of Florence Nightingale's mission to troops in the Crimean War. Two years later, a bill to make it an annual celebration stalled.
In 1972, a proposal for a National Registered Nurse Day went nowhere.
The Persistent Fight
One month after the International Council of Nurses proclaimed May 12 as International Nurse Day in January 1974, the U.S. established its own National Nurses Week. The push did not stop there. From 1978 to 1981, legislators and lobbying nurses worked to establish May 6 as a day of recognition. In 1981 the ANA lobbied to make it a national observance, and a year later May 6 was designated National Recognition Day for Nurses.
The Final Push
In 1990, the ANA petitioned to extend the single day into a week, and the petition was granted. After another petition in 1993, May 6-12 was permanently designated National Nurses Week. Today the whole month of May is National Nurses Month.
How You Can Celebrate National Nurses Week
The ANA builds its May celebrations around four themes: self-care, recognition, professional development, and community engagement. Here is how to act on each, whether you are a nurse or you want to support one.
Self-Care
The ANA reports that nurses in the U.S. are less healthy than the average American. Nursing is stressful and leads to burnout, so self-care matters. If you are a nurse, that can mean a healthier diet, joining a gym, better stress management, journaling, therapy, or taking mental health days. If you support a nurse, give them the time and space to do it, and if you run a wellness business, offer them a discount.
Recognition
Feeling appreciated is a basic human need. If you are a nurse, thank your peers and managers with a card or email, and recommend colleagues for awards in your facility or community. If you support a nurse, tell them directly with a text, a call, a message, or a gift. Even liking or sharing a post that backs nurses helps.
Professional Development
Nurses need continuing education credits to keep their licenses, but development goes further than the required CE course. If you are a nurse, enroll in a self-study course, many nursing organizations offer them in teamwork, ethics, and leadership, or pursue a specialty certification or advanced degree. If you support a nurse, be understanding when they need time to study, and consider contributing to a nursing school or organization.
Community Engagement
Nurses make a difference beyond the bedside. If you are a nurse, serve as a member or board leader for a health or advocacy organization like the ANA, and attend public council meetings at the local and state level. If you support a nurse, learn how nurses shape policy. The ANA's advocacy page is a solid starting point, and you can find city council agendas and dates on your city's official website.
When you support a nurse, you support an entire community.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is National Nurses Week? National Nurses Week runs May 6 through May 12 every year. May 6 is National Nurses Day and May 12 is Florence Nightingale's birthday. The whole month of May is now recognized as National Nurses Month (ANA).
Why is May 12 part of Nurses Week? May 12 is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. The International Council of Nurses also marks it as International Nurses Day, which it established in 1974 (ICN).
How long did it take to make Nurses Week official? More than four decades. A Nurse Day was first proposed in 1953, May 6 was designated National Recognition Day for Nurses in 1982, and the full May 6-12 week was permanently established in 1993 after sustained ANA advocacy.
Who established National Nurses Week? The American Nurses Association led the effort over many years, working alongside legislators, local nurses, and federal health officials to win the proclamations that put the observance on the calendar.
How can I celebrate National Nurses Week? The ANA organizes its celebrations around four themes: self-care, recognition, professional development, and community engagement. You can thank a nurse directly, recommend a colleague for an award, pursue a certification, or get involved in health policy.
What is the difference between Nurses Week and Nurses Month? Nurses Week is the May 6-12 observance. Nurses Month expands the recognition across the entire month of May, giving employers and communities more time to honor nurses.