National Nurses Week is a time for people to give credit to the nearly 4 million nurses in the United States. Many nurses go unrecognized for all their hard work. They do things like preforming physical exams, give medicine, care for wounds, and educate patients on their health. Many nurses work alongside doctors in specialized fields, so they have to be educated further in their specialized field. Nurses are important for the patients, as well, as they are able to form bonds with them, making the whole process of going to the doctor's less scary.
National Nurses Week started in the October of 1954. The time frame around May 6th was chosen due to it being the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale's mission to Crimea. Then, in 1982, May 6 was proposed to be the date to start National Nurses Week, with May 12 being the end. May 12 is was also the birthday of Florence Nightingale. The celebration of nurses revolves around Nightingale so much because of how many people she had helped in her life and also her contributions to the nursing world.
There are tons of ways to celebrate National Nurse Week. Some people like providing breakfast for all the nurses in a particular office or hospital. Others may organize a fundraiser event, such as a walk or run, in order to ensure that the nurses are able to do their work with the best equipment possible. Some people will simply write letters, thanking certain nurses for how much they have helped them. Below are some items that you can use to make National Nurses Week even more exciting.