Page 15 - Impression May 2020
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NURSES WEEK
On the frontlines of care.
Strength to do the incredible!
THANK YOU TO OUR NURSING STAFF
Nurses Week
MAY 6 -12
History of National Nurses Week
National Nurses Week is celebrated every year beginning May 6th and ending May 12th on
Florence Nightingale's birthday. Join us in celebrating the men and women who serve this
country by caring for its citizens.
1953 Dorothy Sutherland of the U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare proposed to
President Eisenhower to proclaim a "Nurses Day" to commemorate the 100th anniversary of
Florence Nightingale’s mission to the Crimea. However, the proclamation was never made.
National Nurses Week was observed, regardless, in 1954 from October 11 - 16 thanks to a bill
sponsored by Representative Frances P. Bolton. A bill for a National Nurses Week was
introduced in 1955 to Congress, but still, no action was taken. 1965 The International Council of
Nurses (ICN) began celebrating "International Nurse Day". The House of Representatives
presented a resolution in 1972 to President Nixon to proclaim "National Registered Nurse Day".
Again, no action was taken. In January of 1974, ICN proclaims that May 12 (the birthday of
Florence Nightingale) would be "International Nurse Day". In February, President Nixon
proclaims National Nurse Week. After that, in 1978 New Jersey Governor Brendon Byrne
declared May 6 as "National Nurses Day" for his state. Then in1981, the ANA (American Nurses
Association) rallied with other nurses’ associations to support a resolution initiated by nurses in
New Mexico, through Congressman Manuel Lujan, to have May 6, 1982, established as
"National Recognition Day for Nurses".
In February 1982, the ANA Board of Directors formally acknowledges May 6, 1982 as "National
Nurses Day". This action confirmed a joint resolution of the United States Congress designating
May 6 as "National Recognition Day for Nurses".
On March 25th 1982, President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation officially declaring May 6,
1982 as "National Recognition Day for Nurses". In 1990 The American Nursing Association
Board of Directors expanded the recognition of nurses to a week-long celebration, declaring
May 6 - 12, 1991 as National Nurses Week. In 1993 the ANA Board of Directors designated May
6 - 12 as lasting dates to observe National Nurses Week.
