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Show your appreciation for nurses this National Nurses Day! Show your support with donations, cards, and kind words to recognize their hard work.
Celebrate National Nurses Day on May 6 by giving a special thank you to the everyday heroes in the nursing profession! This day has been around since 1953 when Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare sent out a proclamation for recognition of nurses across America. Since then it has become an annual tradition to show appreciation for these selfless individuals who dedicate their lives to providing healthcare services and helping others in need.
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1854</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Florence Nightingale's Impact</div><div class='timeline-text'>Florence Nightingale was a catalyst for nursing reform, providing care for British soldiers during the Crimean War and establishing a training school for nurses in 1860.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1893</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>American Nurses Association</div><div class='timeline-text'>The American Nurses Association was established to advocate for the rights and wellbeing of nurses throughout the United States.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1953</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>National Nurses Day Initiation</div><div class='timeline-text'>National Nurses Day was established by Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. She sent a proclamation to President Dwight Eisenhower for May 6th to be a day of recognition for nurses.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1974</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>International Nurses Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>On the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale's mission to Crimea, the International Council of Nurses declared May 12th as International Nurses Day.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1990</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Establishment of National Nurses Week</div><div class='timeline-text'>The American Nurses Association extended the recognition of nurses to a week-long celebration from May 6th-12th, known as National Nurses Week.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2020</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Year of the Nurse</div><div class='timeline-text'>The World Health Organization declared 2020 the "Year of the Nurse and Midwife" in honor of the 200th birthday of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale, highlighting the indispensable roles of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Send a card</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Show your appreciation for nurses by sending them cards with kind words and thank you messages.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Organize a potluck</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Gather your friends, family, and colleagues to show nurses how much they are appreciated by hosting a potluck in their honor.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Donate to a cause</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Find an organization that supports nurses and make a donation in their name to show your support.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Offer discounts</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>If you own a business, offer discounts to nurses as a way of saying thank you for all that they do.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Volunteer at a hospital</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Spend some time volunteering at your local hospital or nursing home and help out with the work that the nurses do every day.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Nurses provide vital care and support</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Nurses are the frontline healthcare workers who provide care and comfort to our loved ones when they're sick or injured. They often go above and beyond their duties, taking extra steps to ensure patients receive the best quality of care possible.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Nurses advocate for better healthcare</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Nurses understand the needs of patients first-hand and are dedicated to improving healthcare standards & regulations so everyone can access quality treatments. From lobbying government policies to raising public awareness, nurses take on a leadership role within their profession in pursuit of better healthcare.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Nurses show compassion & empathy</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>More than just medical professionals, nurses also offer emotional and moral support for patients during times of illness. They make it their priority to lend an ear, knowing that sometimes just having someone to talk to makes all the difference in a person's life.</p></div></div>
National Nurses Day is celebrated on May 6th every year. In 2024 National Nurses Day will occur on a Monday.
2023
May 6
Saturday
2024
May 6
Monday
2025
May 6
Tuesday
2026
May 6
Wednesday
2027
May 6
Thursday
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