National Nurses Day
National Nurses Day is observed every year on May 6th to commemorate the important role that the nurses play in our lives every year.
This day marks the beginning of National Nursing Week, which ends on May 12th, the birthday of Florence Nightingale.
The United States observes it, but schools and businesses continue to operate normally.
Origins
National Nursing Week was inspired by the work of Florence Nightingale. Nightingale was an English social reformer, and is considered to be the founder of modern nursing as we know it.
Her work gained her notoriety during the Crimean War, where she dedicated herself to taking care of the several wounded soldiers. She often did her rounds to check on the patients at night, which earned her the moniker of “The Lady with the Lamp”.
In 1953, a proposal to honor nurses nationally was rejected by President Eisenhower. However, in 1954, the first unofficial National Nurses Week was observed from October 11 to 16, marking the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale's mission in Crimea.
It wasn't until 1974 that President Nixon officially proclaimed National Nurses Week in the United States. In 1982, May 6 was designated as National Nurses Day by President Reagan, and in 1990, the American Nurses Association expanded the celebration to National Nursing Week.
How the day is observed
Every year there is a theme for National Nursing Week, chosen by the American Nurses Association, which aims to honor and appreciate the services that nurses provide in society.
There are events such as banquets and seminars organized to bring awareness to the vital role that nurses have, and nurses are often given gifts by their employers and patients.
In America, National Nurses Day is very popular, as nurses are regarded as the most important element and support in the medical world, as without them, doctors would not be able to do their jobs. Nurses are also regarded as the most trustworthy profession in the country.
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