Looking for a gift idea for Nurses Week?

In order to celebrate Nurses Week, we are offering our Pediatric Emergency Resuscitation Guide on sale at a 20% discount!  It is the perfect solution.  Our second edition was developed in partnership with the Emergency Nurses Association and is in stock and ready to ship in 24-48 hrs.

Take advantage of our 20% sale Order Page!

Tell me what is included in the second edition CrashCards Pediatric Resuscitation Tool.

Nurses Week History

Dates:  May 6-12

Birthday of Florence Nightingale:  May 12 

Florence Nightingale Pledge:  

"I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.

Although not enacted until 1974, the history of Nurses week begins in 1953 when Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare sent a proposal to President Eisenhower.  Her proposal was to proclaim "Nurses Day" to be celebrated in October of 1954.  There was no proclamation rendered.  However, in 1954 National Nurses Week was observed marking the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingales's mission to Crimea.

In 1974, after the proclamation by the International Council of Nurses that May 12 would be "International Nurse Day," a week was designated as "National Nurse Week" and was so proclaimed by President Nixon.

In 1978, May 6 was declared as "Nurses Day" by New Jersey Governor Brendon Byrne.  In 1981 a resolution was initiated by nurses in New Mexico to have May 6 declared "National Recognition Day for Nurses."  This proposal was promoted by the ANA Board of Directors and in 1982, with a joint resolution, the United States Congress designated May 6 to be "National Recognition Day for Nurses."  This proposal was then signed by President Reagan, making May 6 the official "National Recognition Day for Nurses."

This day was expanded to a week (May 6-12) in 1990 by the ANA Board of Directors.  The week begins on May 6 with the "National Recognition Day for Nurses" and with a week long celebration, ends on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, long considered to be the founder of present day nursing.  These dates were made permanent in 1993 and in all subsequent years, "National Nurses Week" has been celebrated from May 6-12.  

This week was created to honor the nurses that give care to millions of patients each day of the year.  This year's celebration includes a recognition by the ANA to promote a national awareness of the shortage of nurses nationwide.  CrashCards would like to join with the ANA in honoring you, the millions of nurses that serve with open hearts and "The True Spirit of Caring."

Opinion:

Short-staffing is becoming an increasingly more prominent national issue.  As other options are opened to those in nursing-related fields with better pay and perhaps less responsibility, experienced nurses are shifting out of patient care and into fields with less stress and possibly better hours.  It is the heart of a nurse, however, that is the sticking factor.  We, as nurses, are essentially concerned providers and truly want the best for the patients that are in our care.  Hopefully, that is a factor that will keep experience in the field where it is absolutely necessary.  To obtain new and the future experienced nurses, we need to make certain nursing is a profession where we not only have the respect and satisfaction of a job well done, but have the salaries and benefits necessary to entice those choosing their careers to determine that nursing is indeed a career worth pursuing.  I, for one, have never been sorry that I chose to follow my heart.  Nursing has been a rewarding career with the satisfaction of being able to contribute to the welfare of my community.  It is a process of constant learning.  

Patricia A. Hirt RN, CEN

An excellent link to learn more about the Nursing shortage and what is being done about it is NurseSource.org.  This is a site whose mission it is to heighten the awareness about the national nursing crisis and to promote nursing as a clear career choice.  Also see our follow-up article on the national nursing shortage.

Written by Ross B., RN, Jacksonville, FL "I work in management with PSA, a national company that offers care to medically complex children in a private duty home care environment. It offers a wonderful clinical need to those children and families trying to cope with the difficulties they face on a day to day basis. It is nurses like these who care for children and the socially complex situations that are an especially cherished part of our society and I am thankful everyday for their dedication."

Nurses Week Promotional Ideas

"We have two of the greatest nurses. Why do I think they are so great? We work with the mentally retarded and developmentally disabled. Julie M. our LPN has a heart of gold and all the patience in the world. Renee S. our RN is the same way. I have never met two more caring people, that are always ready for the often scrapes and bruises and more serious problems that are thrown their way on a daily basis. There are times when their job is extremely stressful but our two nurses are not only keep our consumers safe and well, but they also find the time to care about the staff. They are always there to cheer us up when we are depressed or just need someone to talk to. The nurses spread themselves thin and still find the time to spread a smile!" Sent in by: Tamara L.,  Canton, NY   Thank you Tamara!  And thank you Renee and Julie for your tremendous jobs and hearts that keep giving. 

If you have an idea that your hospital or place of work has used to promote "National Nurses Week," please send it to and we will publish your ideas. We love to have you include what being a nurse has meant to you.  A drawing will be held for a set of CrashCards Pediatric Resuscitation, the Advanced Pediatric Life Support Tool, to promote National Nurses Week, and the winner will be announced in the CrashCards Monthly Newsletter.  Click here to enter our contest and subscribe. 

Sent in by Koch:  In 2001 my hospital put together a nurses spa for the day.  The physical therapy department donated their parifin machines.  We called it the Pampered Palace. We decorated two empty patient rooms with fresh lilacs and had soothing music. We had two students from a local massage school donate their time for chair massages, and one nurses daughter was a hairdresser and she did nail color changes. We served fresh brewed ice tea and finger foods thoughout the day IT WAS A BLAST!!                                       

Want your ideas published?  Email us at:  .