Nurses Week: How Did It Start and What Does It Mean?

Every May, nurses celebrate Nurses Week. So how did it start, and what does it mean?

It began in 1974 when the International Council of Nursing proclaimed that, in celebration of Florence Nightingale, “International Nurses Day” would be adopted and celebrated on her birthday, May 12. In the same year, by Presidential decree, a national week to honor nurses was proclaimed. Then in 1982 the American Nurses Association (ANA) and President Ronald Reagan claimed May 6 to be National Nurses Day, and by 1990 the Board of Directors of ANA declared May 6 through May 12 to observe as a national week to honor nurses.

There are nearly 4 million nurses who practice in the USA today. I believe that National Nurses Week is about:

1. Honoring and celebrating the unique knowledge, skill, expertise and commitment that comes with being a professional nurse.
2. Recognizing the impact of nurses in hospitals and across all settings where care is delivered – in schools and camps, in homes, in practices and at the bedside.
3. Acknowledging the art and science of nursing care and its foundation in selflessness, kindness and compassion.
4. Thanking nurses for their advocacy of those in need, those in pain, and those who are suffering.

Nurses Week is a time to recognize nursing excellence and reflect on why we became members of this challenging, fulfilling, humbling and inspiring profession.

I’d like to take the opportunity this Nurses Week to sincerely thank my long-time mentor and friend, Dr. Lisa Rowen, DNSc, BCC , who will be retiring in the coming weeks. Lisa has had an illustrious career in nursing leadership and health care. She is a thought-leader whose wisdom, guidance, support and kindness have shaped my career. Thank you, Lisa – I will always be grateful to you.

To all my friends and colleagues, thank you for what you do every day and happy Nurses Week!

Sincerely,

David G. Hunt, MSN, MBA, RN, NEA-BC

Senior Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer

UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center

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