For more than 40 years, Nurses Day and Nurses Week have been a time to recognize nurses for their work. Nurses Day was declared a National Day of Recognition in 1982 and falls every year on May 6. Nurses Week runs May 6 to 12, timed to close on Florence Nightingale's birthday.
The American Nurses Association (ANA) and the International Council of Nurses back these celebrations. In 2020, during the Year of the Nurse, the ANA dedicated all of May to nurses. What started as a one-time event stuck: Nurses Month is now permanent. Most hospitals still hold their own events during the May 6 to 12 window, but you can mark the occasion all month.
How to Participate
There is more to Nurses Month than what your employer puts on. Look past the official schedule and find what actually serves you.
Conferences
A good conference keeps your skills current and your network growing, and it often comes with continuing education units (CEUs) you need to renew your license. Many employers reimburse the cost, which can turn a conference into paid travel, new knowledge, and career connections in one trip. If you would rather stay home, virtual conferences offer most of the same upside.
Freebies and Discounts
During Nurses Month, plenty of brands offer discounts just for showing an employee badge, from scrubs and nursing gear to housewares and electronics, plus free CEUs from groups like the ANA. You do not have to wait until May, either. Nurse and healthcare discounts on phone plans, rental cars, electronics, and more run year-round.
Social Media
Social media is a fast way to trade tips and stories with other nurses. Check in during Nurses Week or any time, and follow tags like #nursesweek, #nursing, and #nurselife to find the conversation or start your own.
Take Time for Your Career
New grad or seasoned pro, there is always room to grow in nursing. Use the month to think about your next move:
- Find a mentor. Someone further along, with the kind of career you want, can help you map the long game. Start with a former professor, a coworker in a leadership role, or your network.
- Earn a credential. If you have committed to a specialty like ER or pediatrics, a credential proves it. The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers a wide range.
- Go for an advanced degree. Whether it is an MSN or an LPN-to-BSN bridge, this is as good a time as any to start.
Remember to Practice Self-Care
Nursing is a high-stress job with heavy workloads and real burnout risk, and the people drawn to it tend to put everyone else first. That makes downtime hard to protect.
Rosa Crumpton, RN, BSN, MBA, a nurse manager at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Seattle, knows the pull. "It can be challenging for those of us used to always helping others to put our needs first. It goes against everything that has been ingrained in us," she says. "This means we have to make our needs known, take our breaks, say no to overtime, and create some boundaries between work and home."
If you want structured support, the ANA offers a Self-Care Package for Nurses that comes with CEUs and work-life balance tips.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is National Nurses Day? May 6 every year. The American Nurses Association set the date, and President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation recognizing it in 1982.
When is National Nurses Week? May 6 to 12 each year. The week closes on May 12, Florence Nightingale's birthday.
Is it Nurses Week or Nurses Month? Both. The ANA dedicated the full month of May to nurses during the 2020 Year of the Nurse, and Nurses Month is now a permanent annual observance. Most employers still center events on the May 6 to 12 window.
Why does Nurses Week end on May 12? May 12 is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, so the week is timed to close on it.
Who organizes Nurses Week and Nurses Month? The American Nurses Association leads the U.S. observances, with the International Council of Nurses backing nursing recognition globally.
How can I make the most of Nurses Month? Attend a conference for CEUs and networking, use nurse discounts and free CEUs, find a mentor, earn a specialty credential, or start an advanced degree. Build in real self-care, not just what your employer schedules.