National Nurses Week 2026 runs from May 6 to May 12, aligning with Florence Nightingale's birthday. This annual event honors nurses' contributions to healthcare.
Nurses Week always starts on May 6, Nightingale's birthdate, and ends on May 12, the anniversary of her death. The American Nurses Association (ANA) organizes it, with hospitals and clinics hosting events to recognize nurses.
The week includes:
Nurses Week highlights the challenges nurses face, such as long hours and staffing shortages. According to the ANA, 63% of nurses report feeling burned out, making recognition important. The week also promotes public awareness of nursing roles.
Some think Nurses Week is just about gifts or cards. In reality, it's about systemic support, including better pay and working conditions. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nurses Week 2020 emphasized mental health resources for nurses.
During Nurses Week 2023, I visited a local clinic where nurses received handwritten notes from patients. One nurse said, "It's the small gestures that remind us why we do this job."