National Nurses Month is celebrated throughout May to honor the dedication and impact of nurses, with National Nurses Week taking place from May 6–12. The American Nurses Association (ANA) leads this celebration with the theme “You Make a Difference,” focusing on self-care, recognition, professional development, and community engagement
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
National Nurses Week runs May 6-12, culminating with the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who founded modern nursing.
“Nurses Week is about pausing in the midst of busyness,” said Julie Moore, chief nursing officer at St. Joseph’s Health. “It is a way to let nurses know that they matter and the difference they make is immeasurable. It fosters a culture of gratitude and support. They are at the heart of patient care. Celebrating Nurses Week allows us to celebrate the visible and invisible contributions.”
Moore believes that by taking care of nurses, they enable them as providers to provide better care to patients.
“They also inspire the next generation of caregivers,” Moore said. “They’re the heart of our organizations. It’s a great honor to serve alongside them.”
St. Joseph’s has activities planned, gifts for nurses, awards, activities like a dance-off and escape room and a daily Blessing of the Hands prayer.
“A whole team of nurses get together to plan this week,” Moore said. “We try to make everything we do have a nurse’s voice in it. It’s important to remember that nursing is more than a profession. It’s compassion in action. They’re the steady hands and compassionate hearts that make every difference in the work of care.”
St. Joseph’s is also participating with a Light Up the Sky event, which includes National Grid, Landmark Theatre and JMA Wireless Dome. Promoted by the American Nurses Association, Light Up the Sky is a nationwide initiative to honor nurses by illuminating prominent landmarks during National Nurses Week.
Scott Jessie, Upstate University Hospital’s chief nursing officer, said that Upstate uses the celebratory week to “recognize and celebrate the extraordinary impact nurses have on the health of our communities.”
“Nurses are the backbone of healthcare, bringing together clinical expertise, critical thinking and compassion to support patients and families at their most vulnerable moments,” he added. “Every day, nurses lead care delivery, relentlessly advocate for patients and families and innovate in the face of an increasingly complex healthcare environment. From the bedside to the boardroom, nurses shape patient outcomes, influence policy and practice and help design the future of healthcare through leadership, education, research, and care transformation.
“As a community, we are fortunate to be served by nurses whose dedication and commitment define what exceptional care looks like today and what it will become tomorrow. During Nurses Week and throughout the year, we thank our nurses for the vital role they play in improving lives and advancing the health and wellbeing of those we serve.”
Honoring the “heart and soul of healthcare” is how the week is viewed by Tammy Austin-Ketch, Ph.D., board-certified family nurse practitioner, dean and professor at the College of Nursing at SUNY Upstate Medical University.
“Nurses bring vast knowledge, great compassion, ethical comportment and unwavering dedication to the care of individuals, families and communities that they serve,” Austin-Ketch said. “Their tireless work transforms moments of vulnerability into moments of hope, healing, strength for both patients and colleagues.
“During National Nurses Week, nursing professionals are recognized not only for the profound daily contributions made at the bedside, in classrooms, and in research, but also the enduring commitment to advancing health and dignity for all. With the great flux in healthcare today, the courage, fortitude and compassion of all nurses remind us what it truly means to serve humanity.”