Ultimate Guide to Nurses Week

What is National Nurses Week?

For those new to nursing, National Nurses Week is an annual celebration of the largest healthcare profession in America, with nearly 4.2M active licenses, according to the most recent Workforce Survey. 

It's a time to recognize and honor the contributions that nurses make to society.

National Nurses Week was first observed in 1954¹, and its timing was chosen to coincide with the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Healthcare organizations and communities across the country hold events, give away discounts, freebies and more, to show appreciation for the hard work and dedication of nursing professionals. 

The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the main supporter of the week of celebration.

2024 Nurses Week Dates

Nurse's celebration week keeps the same dates each year. The week starts on May 6th and ends on May 12th, which is Florence Nightingale's birthday. Here's the overview of the week¹:

Aside from the single week, this year, there are four different themes for each week in the month of May, an entire month of celebrations.

What is the Nurses Week Theme of 2024?

Beginning in 2022, the enduring theme "Nurses Make a Difference" was established, embodying the timeless impact of nurses. This theme remains steadfast, transcending years and continuing to resonate. Moreover, each week of May carries its own dedicated theme, adding depth and significance to the celebration²:

Let's talk about how to celebrate each of these weeks in true nursing style.

How to Celebrate Nurses Month, 2024

As tradition, companies are giving away Nurses Week freebies, discounts and more. We've compiled a full list that we'll keep updating as we go through the month. For employers, partners, friends and family, it's also a nice time to show your appreciation of the nurses close to you, with a gift.

It's a longstanding tradition at Allnurses to host our own Nurses Month Contest for the community. However, this year, we've decided to shake things up a bit. Introducing the all-new allnurses Community Awards, debuting this Nurses Month 2024! Stay tuned as we reveal the first of ten awards on May 9th, with subsequent announcements throughout the month.

Beyond freebies and prizes, let's share a bit more about each of this year's themes.

Self-Care

5 out of the top 30 most stressful occupations³ are in the nursing field, according to a research project sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).

Some specialties are more stressful than others, but the key to a successful nursing career in any specialty is stress management. This week is a dedicated time for: 

• Learning and sharing tips on self-care
• Engaging in an important discourse on the topic of mental health, and raising mental health awareness

Practicing self-care is essential for nurses to maintain their health, resilience, and ability to provide quality patient care.

Read more from nurses on self-care and stress management:

• How to Take Care of Yourself When You are the Caretaker
• How Wellness Trends Might Reshape Healthcare as We Know It

Check out our Stress 101 Community to ask questions and engage in thoughtful conversation with others who might be going through the same trials and tribulations.

Recognition

There are a myriad of studies that have shown the direct correlation between recognition and job satisfaction. Recently, a 2023 research study on motivation and well-being in the workplace found that recognition positively influences need satisfaction, which in turn affects employee well-being⁴.

Additionally, in the healthcare setting, studies have shown that recognition is one of the most important factors in the nursing work environment that contributes to employee satisfaction and, subsequently, can lead to better patient experiences⁵.

So why aren't nurses continuously recognized for their foundational contributions to society? This week seeks to advocate for further recognition of individuals who earned their right to be lauded and the general awareness of the importance of recognition of healthcare professionals.

Read more from nurses on the importance of recognition:

• Recognition
• Recognizing Nurses Must Become a Year-round "Best Practice"

Professional Development

There are many different paths to grow in your career and earning potential.

Increased compensation is not the only reason to pursue professional development, but it's likely the most tangible byproduct of it. As a point of illustration, here are some of the differences in salary amongst licenses according to an Allnurses salary survey:

• LPN/LVN to RN is a 35% increase in annual compensation
• RN to APRN is a 48% increase in annual compensation

These figures are even more drastic if you look at the 2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Data:

• LPN/LVN to RN is roughly a 45% increase in annual compensation^6,7

This week serves as a reminder to methodically evaluate where you want to take your nursing career and to start to put your path in motion, working toward fulfilling your dreams and aspirations.

Check out our Career Support Community to ask what's on your mind, and learn from those who are in your position, or perhaps further along in their career.

Community Engagement

Of all the themes, this may appear nebulous at first glance. Perhaps more accurately said, this theme is the most outside of the comfort zone of the average nurse. That doesn't make it less important.

Community engagement is about becoming an advocate for change beyond just our smaller circle of influence. If nurses don't stick up for the nursing community, who will? 

The goal of this week is to set aside time to educate your community on what nurses do and the profound impact they make. Taking it a step further, the ANA offers additional ideas:

• Advocate for, and work to shape public policy
• Consider a fundraiser for the community
• Engage in discourse with your elected officials on key matters
• Join an organization board

Related: Ultimate Guide to Nursing Leadership Skills

History of National Nurses Week

The history of Nurses Week can be traced back to a few key events that started roughly 70 years ago, in 1953. Here's a brief timeline of the key events¹:

1953: Dorothy Sutherland's Proposal
Dorothy Sutherland was an official with the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW). The HEW was the precursor to the modern-day Department of Health and Human Services as well as the Department of Education.

Dorothy proposed the idea of a "Nurse Day" in 1953 to President Eisenhower. President Eisenhower neglected to make an official proclamation of the day.

1954: National Nurse Week First Observed
Despite the lack of an official presidential proclamation, National Nurse Week was observed for the first time in 1954. The week chosen was October 11th to 16th, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale's Crimean Mission.

1965: International Nurses Day Established
In 1965, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) established May 12th as International Nurses Day¹.

1974: National Nurses Week Proclamation
President Richard Nixon officially proclaimed a "National Nurse Week" in 1974.

1982: National Nurses Day Proclamation
President Reagan officially proclaimed May 6 as "National Recognition Day for Nurses.”

1998: National Student Day Created
The ANA declared May 8 as "National Student Nurses Day" in 1998 "to acknowledge the future generation of nurses.”

2020: National Nurses Month Celebration
During the height of the pandemic in 2020, the ANA proposed and supported an extension of the celebration from just a week-long event to an entire month. It's remained that way through 2023.

2023 Nursing Recognition Dates by Month

Nurses Week and Month are not the only time of the year when the greater public shows their appreciation for the nursing profession. Here's a list of some of the other important events throughout the year:

*Note: Dates may vary slightly from year to year.

References

1. American Nurses Association. History of National Nurses Week. Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/education-events/national-nurses-week/history/ 
2. American Nurses Association. Nurses Month. Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/ana-enterprise/nurses-month/ 
3. National Center for ONET Development. (2023). Work Styles — Stress Tolerance. ONET OnLine. Retrieved April 7, 2023, from https://www.onetonline.org/find/descriptor/result/1.C.4.b 
4. Alahiane, L., Zaam, Y., Abouqal, R., & Belayachi, J. (2023). Factors associated with recognition at work among nurses and the impact of recognition at work on health-related quality of life, job satisfaction and psychological health: a single-centre, cross-sectional study in Morocco. BMJ Open, 13(5), e051933. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10193074/
5. Bartz, D. E., & Dean-Baar, S. (2015). Transformational leadership in nursing practice. Journal of Nursing Administration, 45(12), 615-620. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNA.0000000000000193 
6. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses: Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved from https://www.BLS.gov/ooh/healthcare/licensed-practical-and-licensed-vocational-nurses.htm 
7. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Registered Nurses: Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved from https://www.BLS.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm 
8. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: 29-1171 Nurse Practitioners. Retrieved from https://www.BLS.gov/oes/current/oes291171.htm