Here at LeaderStat, we’ve long enjoyed a front-row seat to witness the greatness of nurses, and that greatness has never been more apparent. Over the past year, we’ve had the privilege of hearing harrowing stories of how nurses have helped their patients, their teams, and the organizations they work for. Some have been truly humbling and have made us take pause with the gravity of our appreciation. From large numbers of interim workers that willingly raised their hands to go into the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, to the leadership that organized their teams or jumped into a new organization, we have seen first-hand just how much nurses feel their role is more than just a job. While nurses always deserve recognition for their work, this is a unique time in which we have the opportunity to highlight their strengths and contributions as we celebrate Nurses Week!
Nurses Week was established in the 1990s after decades of efforts made by individuals and entities that pushed for national recognition of nurses. Requests to declare nurse recognition began in 1953 when a proposal was sent to President Eisenhower to declare a national “Nurse Day”. Unfortunately, this request was declined. It would be more than 30 years until Nurses Week would become recognized.
Following a declaration of “National Nurses Day” by President Ronald Reagan in 1982, the American Nurses Association initiated an entire week dedicated to the appreciation of nurses from May 6th through May 12th in 1991.
These dates were chosen strategically in order to honor the legacy of the woman known as the “founder of modern nursing”, Florence Nightingale. Born in Italy in 1820, Florence was a pioneer of women in nursing at a time when women of her status aspired to marriage and social affluence. Instead of choosing a life of social status, Florence Nightingale became a nursing student, and ultimately revolutionized standards of nursing and sanitation practices as a result of her work during the European Cholera outbreak and in Crimea. She was known for caring for the sick around-the-clock in Crimea, which led to her being called, “The Lady with the Lamp”. When Nightingale was rewarded monetarily for her efforts by Queen Victoria, she promptly used it to create St. Thomas’ Hospital and established the Nightingale Training School for Nurses, which remains in session today at King’s College in London.
Modern nursing today remains a result of Florence Nightingale’s work and practices, and still influences how we handle infectious diseases. It’s therefore fitting that Nurses Week comes to a close on Nightingale’s Birthday, May 12th. Just as Nightingale did ground-breaking work during the Cholera outbreak, today, nurses are making their own strides against COVID-19 and have played a critical role in health outcomes against the pandemic. Across the continuum of healthcare, we’ve heard stories of nurses that have made a huge difference for the patients they care for.
Not only have nurses played a critical role in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, they also make momentous contributions to their profession and to healthcare as a whole every day. Nurses are often the direct caregivers to patients, act as advocates for patient care to influence policy within the organizations in which they work, and also have influence in legislative systems to work towards the influence of national healthcare policies. From shaping policy to ensuring positive patient experiences, nurses work tirelessly to create the best possible health outcomes for their patients.
Year-round, it’s LeaderStat’s goal to support and celebrate our nurses in every way. We greatly appreciate all you do to help others.