Nurses consistently rank as the most trusted professionals in the country. Nursing is said to be an art and science practiced with the heart and the mind. It integrates a respect for human dignity with intuition for a patient’s needs.
It also requires rigorous education. Nursing is a holistic approach to wellness which cares for the whole person — biological, physical, emotional, behavioral, social and spiritual. The art includes compassion, caring, understanding and communicating. The science requires an understanding of pathophysiology, disease process, technical skills and evidence based practice.
National Nurses Week 2025 is May 6-12. This year’s theme is The Power of Nurses and will “celebrate the unparalleled contributions of nurses and call on the public to honor their essential role in shaping a healthier future for all of us.”
The American Nurses Enterprise (ANE) which encompasses the American Nurses Association (ANA), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the American Nurses Foundation (ANF) together “shines a national spotlight on nurses as the driving force behind compassionate care, innovation and transformative changes in health care.”
May 6 was National Nurses Day. May 8th was National Student Nurses Day. And May 12 is International Nurses Day. It is not a coincidence that May 12 is also Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Florence Nightingale (May 12, 1820 to Aug. 13, 1910) is renowned as the founder of modern nursing. Thus, nurses week is also in honor of her contribution to nursing.
There are over four million nurses in the US. “Nursing is more than a profession. It is a calling grounded in purpose, compassion and service,” according to Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, president, ANA. Nursing roles vary tremendously. Nurses deliver direct patient care, case management, psychiatric nursing, establishing nursing practice standards, teaching, developing quality assurance and directing complex nursing care systems. My cousin who is a nurse practitioner is a chief of medical staff. Nursing includes licensed practical nurses (LPN), registered nurses (RN) and advanced practice nurses (APRN, NP, CNS, CRNA, CNM).
Angela Beddoe, CEO of the ANE states, “Our mission is to champion nurses by prioritizing their well-being and ensuring they have support, recognition and resources needed to thrive.” Nurses week will do this with national press conferences, educational webinars, direct engagement with policy makers and lighting up over 100 buildings, landmarks, monuments, hospitals and bridges across America to honor nurses.
Our well being is a topic in itself. I sat down with my laptop this week intending to write a column on the prevalence of verbal and physical violence inflected upon nurses and other health care staff. Policy makers are finally acknowledging and doing something about it. I was reminded it is Nurse’s Week and chose instead to applaud those hard working, empathetic souls who return to the battlefield day after day despite the negativity. We enter this profession for the sole purpose of helping people.
We expect to deal with patients who are stressed dealing with the unknown, illnesses and injuries. No one is at their best during those times. But health care providers do not deserve physical or verbal aggression for doing their job and trying their best to care for people.
Knowing first hand what my amazing coworkers and colleagues deal with, I’m sending a huge and heartfelt thank you to all the nurses out there.
Another thank you to the many corporate sponsors who have donated money and products to nursing associations and nurses during this week. Sending gratitude to patients, their families and the community who acknowledge and appreciate the care they receive.
Lastly, a shout out to children walking around with their toy medical kits giving check-ups to their parents, pets and stuffed animals, those who want to become a nurse and student nurses — I will trust you in years to come to make health care a better place. Please take time to extend your gratitude to each nurse in your life and those you encounter today and everyday, they need care too.
Take care of yourself and someone else.
Juanita Carnes is a nurse practitioner with 39 years of experience in a hospital emergency department and urgent care facilities. She served 30 years on the Board of Health in Westfield, Massachusetts.
