National Nurses Week is one of the nation’s principal health care happenings, giving recognition to outstanding nurses and sharing nursing education with the public. The week’s festivities supported by the American Nurses Association (ANA), kick off with National Nurses Day on May 6, and include National Student Nurse Day on May 8th and International Nurses Day, May 12th, which is Florence Nightingale’s birthday.

National Nurses Week festivities often include banquets and appreciation dinners, state and city declarations, nursing education workshops and seminars, and other community events that give honor to the nursing profession. Many organizations honor their nurses with gifts or awards and communities distinguish the profession with a variety of activities. Some ways you can personally celebrate National Nurses Week include:
~Writing a note card of thanks to a nurse you know for their dedication to the profession.
~Treat a nurse to lunch or coffee after work.
~Thank the next nurse you encounter, for their dedication and service.
While nurses are honored nationally during National Nurses Week, we believe that nurses deserve constant appreciation and recognition. The nurse is:
~An Educator – Uncertain and worried patients have many questions when spending any amount of time in a health care facility, and nurses are there with the answers. Many nurses also educate hospital staff regarding patient care and administrative issues.
~A Caretaker – A nurse’s patient care responsibilities are extensive. Taking information, checking vitals, administering medicine, assisting in surgery and providing comfort are commonplace to the seasoned nurse.
~A Long Term Health Care Provider – Typically, as a patient’s first point of contact, nurses develop a connection with patients, learn their history and establish the best methods of health care that can be provided.
Barco’s Nightingales Foundation joins communities everywhere in recognizing the importance of nurses and in celebrating the dedication they show their patients. Although National Nurses Day comes only once a year, we are sincerely grateful for those who dedicate their lives to nursing for years.
~Michael and Frida Donner