Nurses Week 2024: Nurses Make the Difference

Posted on May 6, 2024

#NursesWeek 2024 is here, and it’s time to recognize and celebrate nurses’ incredible work!

Nurses are the backbone of our healthcare systems and now, more than ever, we recognize the selfless work they do each day. This special week occurs annually during the second week of May to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of nurses, who work tirelessly to care for the sick and injured, comfort the vulnerable and strive to provide the highest standard of patient care.

Nurses play a critical role in patient care and deserve gratitude and admiration. During Nurses Week, take a moment to thank the amazing nurses in your life and acknowledge their positive impact on the world.

The History of Nurses Week

Nurses Week begins on May 6th and ends on May 12^th. This commemoration originated in honor of Florence Nightingale, the iconic founder of modern nursing, whose birthday falls on May 12^th.

Nightingale, renowned for her pioneering work in caring for injured soldiers during the Crimean War, championed the cause of sanitation, hygiene, and hospital reform. Her visionary approach to healthcare practices revolutionized the nursing profession and transformed the delivery of medical care as we know it today. Her legacy endures, and she remains one of the most influential figures in modern healthcare.

“Nursing is an art: and if it is to be made an art, it requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation as any painter’s or sculptor’s work.”

— Florence Nightingale

Several individuals, organizations, and political leaders contributed to the efforts that have evolved into Nurses Week as it is celebrated today. The American Nurses Association (ANA) has compiled several facts about the history of Nurses Week:

Nurses Week History

1953

The first effort to establish a recognition day for nurses was when Dorothy Parker of the US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare sent a proclamation to then-President Eisenhower. He never signed the proclamation.

1954

A National Nurse Week was observed October 11-16 in recognition of the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s work during the Crimean War.

1950s to 1970s

From the 1950s to 1970s, several bills were introduced to Congress, but none made it through the legislative process.

1974

The ANA declared May 6 as National Nurses Day, which Ronald Reagan signed as an official proclamation

1990

The ANA extended the celebration to “Nurses Week,” and the dates May 6-12 became permanent as of 1994.

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During this week, join RQI Partners in recognizing the work nurses do every day. We will be sharing additional blog articles on how to recognize nurses in your community, as well as touching on important topics impacting the nurses of today.