Some national holidays are widely popular. No matter who you are or what profession you work in, you’re aware of them. For example, Earth Day or World Chocolate Day are popular amongst many different groups of people. I mean, who can’t get behind saving the earth or eating a mouthwatering candy bar? Other holidays are more industry-specific and rarely get the widespread attention they deserve. National Nurses Week, for example, is known in the healthcare industry, but it’s not as tasty or trendy as National Taco Day. That’s why it’s important to spread the word and give a special thanks to all of the nurses in your life! Here at TravelNurseSource.com, we’ve planned a whole campaign around National Nurses Week, including an awesome giveaway prize! Learn more about that here.
In order to celebrate nurses, it’s important to understand the history of Nurses Week, including when it started and why, and when it takes place each year. Check out our answers to these five common questions on the history of Nurses Week!
Five Common Questions on the History of Nurses Week
Q: When is Nurse’s Week Celebrated?
A: May 6 – May 12
Nurse’s Week is celebrated May 6 through May 12 every year. Although National Nurses Week has been celebrated since the 1950s, it only was declared an official week of recognition in the early ‘90s. There are additional holidays such as National Nurse School Day that take place during that week. The American Nurses Association, which leads efforts for the national week of recognition, comes up with a different theme every year.
Q: What is this year’s theme?
A: The theme this year is “Nurses: Inspire, Innovate, Influence”
2018’s theme of inspire, innovate or influence will hopefully encourage nurses to reflect on the impact they make working in nursing. The goal in each theme is to celebrate a specific aspect of nursing.
Q: What are some ways to honor nurses during the celebration?
A: Check out the American Nurses Association website.
There are many ways you can join in the celebration of Nurse’s Week from buying some cool merchandise to sharing and posting on social media. Various organizations, including TravelNurseSource, are running campaigns, giving away prizes, and inviting everyone to share their best nurse stories.
Q: Why was Nurse’s Week started in the first place?
A: To support and promote nursing.
Setting aside one week to support and promote nurses doesn’t seem like enough time when you consider all that they do for us. Regardless, that was the intent of National Nurses Week – to celebrate nurses and all that they do to help people every day. The dates were selected because the week falls on Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Nightingale was a nurse in the 1800s who is an idol/role model in the industry. She played a major role in healthcare reform and she dedicated her life’s work to caretaking. She is attributed to influencing nursing to what it is today.
Q: How has nursing changed over time?
A: Nursing has changed in so many ways.
From education to technology, nursing continues to evolve and grow. Where there were once essentially no nursing schools, today people are majoring in nursing at universities across the country. It’s one of the most in-demand jobs in the United States, and it is slowly becoming a gender diversified profession. Technology is opening so many doors for nurses, both in terms of the way they train to become a nurse and what they’re able to accomplish when caring for patients. The two world wars also greatly contributed to the growth in nursing, because it forced more people to pursue the profession. Today nurses also have the option to travel for work, taking on temporary assignments at hospitals across the country.
What else would you like to know about the history of Nurses Week? Shoot us a question or share some of your own knowledge!
