Since I am a nurse it is only fitting that I remind everyone and thank all of the nurses for the work you do out there. Nurse’s Week is always May 6-12 ending on Florence Nightingale’s birthday. This year the theme is ethical practice, quality care. I hope that nurses where ever they practice will get praise and thanks for a job well done.
A bit of history on nurse’s week. The first nurse’s week was observed in 1954 from October 11-16. This marked the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s mission to Crimea. For those not in nursing the war in Crimea is considered the birth of modern nursing, as Florence Nightingale tended to the sick there. In 1955, a bill was introduced for a nurse’s week but no action was taken by Congress.
In January of 1974, the International Congress of Nursing (ICN) stated that May 12 would be International Nurse’s Day because it is the birthday of Florence Nightingale. Also in that year President Nixon issued a proclamation about Nurse’s week. In 1978, the New Jersey governor at the time, Brendon Byrne was the first to declare May 6th as national Nurse’s Day. In 1982, Congress and the ANA (American Nurses Association) both declared that May 6 was to be “National Recognition Day for Nurses” (ANA, 2015). In March of that year, President Reagon officially signed for May 6 to be the “National Recognition Day for Nursing” (ANA, 2015).
In 1990, the ANA expanded the day to a week and stated that the week would be permanent. In 1996, the ANA stated that May 6th would be the permanent date for recognition of nursing in the United States. In 1997, the ANA stated that May 8th would be National Student Nurse’s Day.
Sam Omulligan in 2012 wrote: “Changes in healthcare regulations, insurance coverage, technology and other factors mean nurses today must balance many demands while continuing to strive for excellence. The dedication, compassion and diligence of nurses have helped make their profession among the most respected.” I agree and could not have said it better myself.
Let us pat ourselves on the back this nurse’s day and the whole week! Thanks to all of you again!
Reference:
American Nurses Association (2015) National Nurses Week History Retrieved from: http://nursingworld.org/Content/NNW-Archive/NationalNursesWeek/MediaKit
Magnet Learning Communities (2015) National Nurses Week 2015 Retrieved from: http://www.magnetlearningcommunity.org/events/eventdescritpion
Omulligan, S. (2012) A History of National Nurses Week Retrieved from: http://blogs.jblearning.com/nursing/2012/05/06
Happy nurses week!