The Power of Nurses™
Join us in celebrating and recognizing National Nurses Week!
MAY 6TH – MAY 12TH
2026
Each May, we come together as a healthcare community to celebrate National Nurses Week— a time to reflect and recognize the extraordinary impact nurses have on patients, staff, providers, and the surrounding communities they serve.
This year’s theme for National Nurses Week, “The Power of Nurses,” couldn’t be more fitting. From the bedside to the boardroom, from rural clinics to bustling urban hospitals, nurses are the backbone of compassionate, evidence-based care. Nurses advocate for patients, lead innovation, and serve as a steady hand in times of uncertainty. Their skill, dedication, and humanity are the foundation on which healing begins for those across the globe.
The History of Nurses Week
Nurses Week originated in honor of Florence Nightingale, the iconic founder of modern nursing, whose birthday falls on May 12th.
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.
How do you combat one of the most pressing challenges healthcare professionals face?
Read Now about Nurses Month Spotlight: How to Reduce Nursing Burnout”
Hear how two teams are closing critical gaps in care when every second counts.
Listen Now about Miles from Help: Emergency Response in America’s Medical Deserts.
Watch the heroic story of a woman who was saved after being struck by lightning, thanks to the quick thinking of an off-duty nurse.
Watch Now about RQI Save Story – Andrea Rogers.
From nursing roots to Ph.D. distinction, a Baptist Health South Florida nurse leader chronicles how the system created a culture of resuscitation excellence.
Read Now about a Baptist Health South Florida nurse leader”
Resources for Download
Help us recognize the extraordinary impact of your nursing teams. Download and share these ready-to-post graphics across your organization’s social channels to celebrate the dedication and life-saving care nurses provide every day.
CPR Playlist from the American Heart Association
Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack Fact Sheet
The songs on this list are between 100 – 120 bpm, the same rate at which you should perform compressions when administering CPR.
People often use these terms interchangeably, but they are not the same. Use this resource as an educational teaching tool.
