Despite all of the polarization and upheaval in our country, our five million-plus nurses remained admired like no other profession by Americans. In fact, nursing has been named the most trusted profession in the country for 24 years and counting in Gallup’s annual Most Honest and Ethical Professions Poll.
Surgery, of course, simply doesn’t exist without these unstoppable engines of patient care and clinical expertise making it happen and improving lives minute after minute, day after, day, week after week, month after month, year after year. What more can you say about our nurses?
Well, starting this Wednesday, you can say “Happy National Nurses Week!” and give your nurses the respect and admiration they deserve! (To join in the celebration online, use the hashtag #ThePowerOfNurses.)
National Nurses Week (NNW) begins Wed., May 6, and runs through Tues., May 12. And there are lots of resources you can access to make it a great one for these titans of perioperative care.
The American Nurses Enterprise, whose three entities are the American Nurses Association, the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the American Nurses Foundation, offers a downloadable toolkit with “customizable resources, marketing assets, guidance, and activation ideas” you can use to celebrate nurses “in your state, with press, in the community, in social and where they work.” The toolkit provides “guidance for pitching stories to press, how to create a declaration and reach local politicians, social media assets, customizable and printable posters, thank you cards and certificates of appreciation” and more.
The organization also is once again promoting the Nurses Light Up the Sky program, which last year illuminated 206 buildings across the country not only to honor nurses but to drive public awareness about the profession. This year, it says, “we’re planning to light up more.” This program has its own hashtag: #NursesLightUpTheSky.
It’s also offering three live NNW webinars throughout the week: “Mary Eliza Mahoney: An Ode to Nursing History,” “Myth‑Busting AI in Nursing,” and “Stronger Together: Building a Culture of Mental Wellness in Nursing,” as well as an on-demand webinar, “The Economic Value of Nursing.”
Check out American Nurses Enterprise’s full landing page about the event here.
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses has assembled a staggering list of “freebies and discounts” just for nurses. Access it here.
The American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) has its own theme for NNW to celebrate the impact of nurse leaders: Leadership in Every Moment. AONL states: “From guiding teams through complex challenges to advocating for patients and shaping the future of care, nurse leaders make critical decisions and meaningful connections every day. Their leadership shows up in big milestones and quiet moments alike — supporting colleagues, improving systems and ensuring the highest quality of care for the communities they serve. Join us May 6–12 as we celebrate nurse leaders who lead with purpose and inspire progress across health care. Through stories, spotlights and special programming, we’ll honor the many ways leadership shows up in every shift, every interaction and every moment.”
There are many more NNW resources out there, including from state nursing associations and other entities. The most important thing, though, it to authentically and warmly celebrate the incredible and inspiring work of your own organization’s nurses not only during NNW, but throughout the year.
From all of us at Periop Leader Network, and on behalf of our entire perioperative leadership community, a profound and sincere THANK YOU to every nurse whose personal sacrifice and outstanding care keeps America much healthier than it would be otherwise.
