May 1–31, 2024
The impact nurses make on healthcare is unparalleled. To honor nurses, National Nurses Week is celebrated from May 6–12, 2024, and National Nurses Month is celebrated throughout all of May. Both this week and this month is a time for hospitals, employers, workplaces, and individuals to acknowledge their nurses. It’s also a time when the American Nurses Association (ANA) especially promotes the profession.
For 2024, the American Nurses Association has chosen the theme “Nurses Make the Difference,” to honor the varying roles of nurses and their positive impact on our lives. Nurses make a difference as trusted advocates who ensure individuals, families, and populations receive quality patient care and services. And nurses make a difference by influencing and shaping health policy decisions that ensure all Americans have access to high-quality, affordable healthcare coverage.
Extending the celebration throughout the entire month of May allows for even greater opportunities to promote understanding and appreciation of the invaluable contributions of nurses.
The National Nurses Week 2024 logo was developed by ANA to celebrate the week and month of the nurse.
Worldwide, International Nurses Day (IND) is also celebrated on May 12 each year. The annual nurses day theme is chosen by the International Council of Nurses (ICN), which is a federation of more than 130 national nursing associations around the world, representing the over 28 million nurses working worldwide. The 2024 theme is “Our nurses. Our future. The economic power of care.“
Free Nursing CEUs
As a special offer during Nurses Week 2024, online CE provider Wild Iris Medical Education invites all nurses to earn 5 contact hours of free nursing CEU by taking the Diabetes in Children and Adolescents course.
To further express their gratitude and appreciation to all hardworking nurses, Wild Iris Medical Education also continues to offer two more free nursing CEUs throughout the entire year of 2024:
1 free ANCC contact hour with the Sexual Harassment Training continuing education course.
Free nursing CEU for 1 contact hour on COVID-19: The Impact of a Pandemic on Mental Health course.
To celebrate nurses during May’s Nurses Month, Wild Iris Medical Education is also offering a special month-long 20% discount on all continuing nursing education (CNE) courses. When nurses take any online course during the month of May and enter the code THANKYOU, this discount will automatically be applied. And the code can be used an unlimited number of times! Why not take advantage of this great savings opportunity to catch up on needed contact hours, get a head start on your coming nursing license renewal, or simply update your knowledge base.
From Ann Johnson, RN, Wild Iris Founder and President:
As a registered nurse celebrating Nurses Week 2024, I’m excited to highlight the top 10 things that make this week special for our profession:
1. Recognizing and honoring the dedication and hard work of nurses worldwide is paramount.
2. Fostering a culture of appreciation and support from patients, families, colleagues, and healthcare organizations boosts morale and promotes a positive work environment.
3. Advocating for nurses’ rights, including safe staffing ratios, fair compensation, and professional development opportunities, remains crucial.
4. Promoting self-care and well-being among nurses through wellness initiatives, mindfulness practices, and mental health resources is essential for sustainable healthcare delivery.
5. Celebrating the diversity and inclusivity within the nursing profession enriches our collective experiences and perspectives.
6. Acknowledging the invaluable contributions of nurse leaders, educators, researchers, and advanced practice nurses enhances our profession’s impact and innovation.
7. Engaging in continuing education, evidence-based practice, and lifelong learning ensures high-quality patient care and professional growth.
8. Fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and teamwork among healthcare providers promotes comprehensive and holistic patient-centered care.
9. Advocating for patient safety, quality improvement, and healthcare equity advances our commitment to excellence and advocacy.
10. Expressing gratitude and appreciation for the resilience, compassion, and dedication that nurses demonstrate every day is key to celebrating Nurses Week and our shared mission to improve health outcomes and promote well-being.
What are the top 10 freebies for Nurses Week?
- Free access to educational webinars and workshops on topics relevant to nursing practice, such as patient safety, infection control, and mental health support.
- Complimentary subscriptions to nursing journals or online resources to stay updated with the latest evidence-based practices and research in healthcare.
- Discounts or waived fees for certifications and continuing education courses, enabling nurses to enhance their skills and advance their careers.
- Free virtual wellness sessions, including yoga classes, mindfulness meditation, and stress management workshops, to promote holistic well-being.
- Access to online support groups or forums where nurses can connect with peers, share experiences, and receive professional advice and guidance.
- Freebies and giveaways from healthcare companies, such as scrubs, nursing accessories, or wellness products, as tokens of appreciation for nurses’ hard work.
- Discounted or complimentary meals and refreshments at local restaurants or cafes as a gesture of gratitude during Nurses Week.
- Free or discounted access to fitness facilities or wellness centers to encourage physical activity and promote a healthy lifestyle among nurses.
- Special offers on nursing-related books, journals, or educational materials, allowing nurses to expand their knowledge and stay informed about industry trends.
- Exclusive discounts or promotions from healthcare brands or retailers on products and services relevant to nursing practice, such as medical equipment, uniforms, or technology solutions.
What Are Other Ways to Celebrate Nurses Week?
For the public: Celebrate National Nurses Week by sharing a photo of your favorite nurse (or nurses) on social media with the hashtag #ThankANurse or donate to the American Nurses Foundation to show your support. You can celebrate by participating in events, expressing gratitude to nurses, and supporting initiatives that honor their devotion.
For patients: Write a thank you card or give a small thoughtful gift.
For health care administrators and nurse leaders: Download our National Nurses Week toolkit and order your “Celebration in a Box” to have everything you need for your National Nurses Week celebration.
Nurses Week History
National Nurses Week traces its history back to 1953, when Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare sent a proposal to President Eisenhower to proclaim a “Nurse Day” in October of the following year. The first National Nurse Week was observed October 11–16, 1954.
Although Congress took no action on a proposed 1955 bill to establish an ongoing National Nurse Week, in January 1974, the International Council of Nurses declared May 12 (Florence Nightingale’s birthday) as International Nurse Day. In 1990, the ANA expanded this daylong recognition of nurses to a weeklong celebration, declaring May 6–12 as “National Nurses Week,” which has been observed annually since then.
Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale, born May 12, 1820, was an English social reformer, statistician, and the founder of modern nursing. She gave nursing a highly favorable reputation and became an icon of Victorian culture, especially in the persona of “The Lady with the Lamp,” making nighttime rounds among wounded soldiers.
In 1860, Nightingale laid the foundation for professional nursing with the establishment of the first secular nursing school in the world at St. Thomas Hospital in London. Her social reforms included improving healthcare for all sections of British society, advocating for better hunger relief in India, helping to abolish prostitution laws that were overly harsh to women, and expanding the acceptable forms of female participation in the workforce.
Nightingale’s lasting contribution has been her role in founding the modern nursing profession. She set an example of compassion, commitment to patient care, and diligent and thoughtful hospital administration. The first official nurses training program, her Nightingale School for Nurses, opened in 1860 and is now called the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at King’s College London.
In January 1974, the International Council of Nurses declared May 12 (Florence Nightingale’s birthday) as International Nurse Day.
Florence Nightingale Medal
In 1912, the International Committee of the Red Cross instituted the Florence Nightingale Medal. Awarded every two years to nurses or nursing aides for outstanding service, it is the highest international distinction a nurse can achieve, given for “exceptional courage and devotion to the wounded, sick or disabled, or to civilian victims of a conflict or disaster” or “exemplary services or a creative and pioneering spirit in the areas of public health or nursing education.”
The Nightingale Pledge
The Nightingale Pledge is a modified version of the Hippocratic Oath, which nurses recite at their pinning ceremony at the end of training. Created in 1893 and named after Nightingale as the founder of modern nursing, the pledge is a statement of the ethics and principles of the nursing profession: “I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.”
Happy Nurses Week!
We truly appreciate each and every one of you and all of your dedication, hard work, and caring. As Florence Nightingale said, “For the sick it is important to have the best.” Be the best you can be in your profession and in your daily life as you continue to make a difference in the world.
RESOURCES
ANA. (2024). https://www.nursingworld.org/ana-enterprise/nurses-week/
American Nurses Association. (2021). 2021: Honoring Nurses. https://anayearofthenurse.org
Wikipedia. (2021). Florence Nightingale. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Nightingale
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About Wild Iris Medical Education:
Wild Iris Medical Education, Inc., is a privately held, woman-owned company providing online healthcare continuing education. In 1998, we began offering online ANCC-accredited nursing continuing education courses and since then have expanded to provide CEUs for occupational therapists, physical therapists, paramedics, EMTs, and other healthcare professionals.
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