Nurses Week is a celebration that has been in the making for over a century. This special week has been honored in the U.S. since the early part of the 1900s, recognizing the hard work of nurses in providing compassionate care for patients and their families. The celebration is typically observed in the US and Canada during the first full week of May each year.
The modern celebration of Nurses Week traces its history back to Marilyn Henry, an editor and director of public relations for Johnson & Johnson Medical. Marilyn noticed that the growth of the nursing profession warranted the recognition of nurses, so she came up with the idea to inaugurate Nurses Week in Philadelphia in 1954. With the help of a team of volunteers and a grant from the Johnson & Johnson Corporation, she organized an event to celebrate the accomplishments of nurses.
The celebration continued to grow until President Ronald Reagan issued a Presidential Proclamation in 1982, making the first full week of May each year officially Nurses Week. His proclamation was designed to provide nurses “with the highest regard and respect they so ardently deserve.”
In the following years, nurses took even more initiatives to spread awareness about the profession and raise awareness about the roles that nurses play in healthcare. Local, regional, and national organizations also took part in the celebration by sponsoring special events and offering discounts and promotions, to honor the hardworking nurses. The National Nursing Week Council, a partner of the American Nurses Association, was founded in 1990.
Today, Nurses Week is celebrated across the world and continues to recognize the efforts nurses put into caring for patients and their families. Many educational programs, competitions, and exhibitions are held to celebrate the week. Hospitals, schools, and medical organizations organize conferences, educational events, open house meetings, and concerts throughout the week to recognize the sacrifices and hard work nurses put into every day.
Nurses Week is a special reminder of the immense commitment constantly demonstrated by nurses throughout the world. This special celebration honors the dedication and selfless care of nurses and provides them the recognition they deserve. Nurses Week serves as a reminder to appreciate nurses and the value they bring to healthcare.