Each year, National Nurses Week has been celebrated from May 6 to May 12, which is nurse practitioner and healthcare pioneer Florence Nightingale’s birthday – May 6. Today, we are proud to highlight those who put their heart, souls and hands to action all for the benefit of those in need.

But the nationwide celebration and recognition of our nurses was not always the case. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), many attempts to solidify a holiday dedicated to honoring nurses were a part of the discussion at the Federal level in the early 1950’s, but did not come to fruition. 

In 1953, Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare proposed to President Eisenhower to proclaim a “Nurse Day” in October of the following year — a request that was not granted. Despite the denial of any proclamation, National Nurses Week was observed from October 11-16 in 1954, which also marked the 100th anniversary of Nightingale’s influential mission to Crimea. 

As time went on, legislative bills aimed at giving nurses their rightful recognition at the Federal level did not find success, but that didn’t thwart the hearts of nurses and allies who pushed for their recognition. In 1974, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) proclaimed May 12 as International Nurse Day. Just one month later, President Nixon proclaimed one week of the year would be the long-requested and overdue National Nurse Week.

After a number of other victories in the fight to highlight the work of Nurses, in 1990, the ANA Board of Directors expanded the recognition of nurses to a week-long celebration from May 6 to May 12 – officially dubbing it as National Nurses Week. Three years later, the dates were locked in place by ANA and it’s been so ever since.

We thank those who pushed for the creation of the holiday, and offer gratitude for those the holiday serves – our dutiful, talented and passionate nurses. We have many here in Sullivan County, and are much better for it. Make sure to take the time to thank a nurse this upcoming week.