National Nurses Day 2025: Know Why This Day Is Associated With Florence Nightingale?

National Nurses Day is observed every year on May 6. The day is dedicated to all the nurses around the world, and it also aims to appreciate the vital contributions and commitments of nurses. This day is also sometimes known as National RN Recognition Day. The significant day raises awareness of the important role of nurses in society and acknowledges their contributions to our health and overall well-being.

About National Nurses Day

National Nurses Day kicks off National Nurses Week, which extends until May 12, 2025. Nurses provide a wide range of care to patients, including direct patient care, medication administration, communication with healthcare providers, and vital sign checks. They also play a crucial role in patient medication, health care promotion, and advocacy. Nurses not only assess and monitor patients, but they are also responsible for accurately administering medication and treatments prescribed by physicians.

Nurses help with various procedures, such as preparing patients and operating equipment. Additional responsibilities of nurses include maintaining patients' records by accurately documenting patient information, supervising other healthcare staff participating in quality improvement activities, etc.

National Nurses Day 2025 Theme

This year, the theme of National Nurses Day is "Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies." This year's theme highlights the critical role nurses play in maintaining public health.

Origin

National Nurses Day is the first day of National Nursing Week, which will conclude on May 12 on the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale. She was popularly also known as The Lady With the Lamp. This week was first observed in the US in October 1954 to mark the 100th anniversary of Nightingale's pioneering work in Crimea.

Dorothy Sutherland of the US Department of Health, Education and Welfare sent a proposal to President Eisenhower asking him to proclaim a "Nurse Day" in October of the following year to coincide with the anniversary in 1953, but the President didn't act that time. After 20 years, President Nixon proclaimed a National Nurse Week to be celebrated annually in May 1974.

Who was Florence Nightingale?

Florence Nightingale was an English social reformer, statistician, and the founder of modern nursing. She came to prominence while serving as a manager and trainer of the nurses in the Crimean War. The pioneering British nurse significantly improved the care of wounded soldiers, particularly by focusing on sanitation and hygiene. Nightingale is often referred to as "The Lady with the Lamp" because she was seen tending to the wounded at night with a lamp.