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Concorde Celebrates National Nurses Week with a Look at its History

Concorde Staff

Concorde Staff

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Updated May 11, 2018. The information contained in this blog is current and accurate as of this date.
concorde career college celebrates national nurses week 2018

Concorde Career College is proud to help prepare students for the nursing profession in our Registered Nursing, Licensed Practical Nursing and Licensed Vocational Nursing programs. Annually, May 6-12th is a time to recognize and celebrate our nurses in all professions with National Nurses Week. And as of 2003, National School Nurse day is celebrated on the Wednesday within National Nurses Week.

The Nursing profession has a long history and National Nurses week does as well. The American Nurses Association (ANA) has supported and promoted the nursing profession since 1896 and each state and territorial nursing association promotes the nursing profession at state and regional levels. The celebrations during the week are conducted by the local ANA and help recognize the contributions that nurses and nursing make to that community.

As part of Concorde's celebration here are some important dates in the history of National Nurses Week.

History of National Nurses Week

1953 Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare sent a proposal to President Eisenhower to make a "Nurse Day" in October of the following year but the proclamation was never made.

1954 October 11th-16th was observed as "National Nurses Week" as the year marked the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale's mission to Crimea. The bill was sponsored by Representative Frances P. Bolton.

1955 A bill was introduced to Congress for "National Nurse Week" but no action was taken, as Congress discontinued its practice of joint resolutions for national weeks of various kinds.

1972 Again a resolution was presented by the House of Representatives for the President to proclaim "National Registered Nurse Day," it did not happen.

1974 In January, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) proclaimed that May 12 would be "International Nurse Day." (May 12 is the birthday of Florence Nightingale.) Since 1965, the ICN has celebrated "International Nurse Day."

In February of the same year, a week was designated by the White House as "National Nurse Week", and a proclamation was issued by President Nixon.

1978 New Jersey Governor Brendon Byrne declared May 6th as "Nurses Day."

1981 The ANA and various nursing organizations rallied to support a resolution initiated by nurses in New Mexico, through their Congressman, Manuel Lujan, to have May 6, 1982, established as "National Recognition Day for Nurses."

1982 In February, the ANA Board of Directors formally acknowledged May 6, 1982, as "National Nurses Day." The action affirmed a joint resolution of the United States Congress designating May 6 as "National Recognition Day for Nurses."

President Ronald Reagan then signed a proclamation on March 25 proclaiming "National Recognition Day for Nurses" to be May 6, 1982.

1990 "National Nurses Day" was expanded to a week-long celebration by the ANA Board of Directors, declaring May 6th-12th, 1991 as "National Nurses Week."

1993 May 6th-12th were designated permanent dates to observe "National Nurses week" in 1994 and going forward by the ANA Board of Directors.

1997 ANA Board of Directors, designates May 8th as "National Student Nurses Day" at the request of the National Student Nurses Association.

What does the future hold

Over the past 20 years, no major changes have occurred for National Nurses Week but the recognition has never stopped. Events are held at various locations and on the web, check out the ANA events this year.

You can join in the celebration by using the #NursesWeek And sharing who you are thankful for in the nursing profession. There are far too many for us to thank individually here at Concorde, but we are proud to say we know some of the best nurses around.

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