Today, May 6th, is designated National Nurses Day and is also the beginning of National Nursing Week. This is a week of recognition and praise to honor our nurses for the vital role that they play in the healthcare system. Fittingly, National Nursing Week concludes on May 12, which is the birthday of Florence Nightingale – the founder of modern nursing.

Nightingale first made her reputation as a healer tending to British soldiers during the Crimean War in the mid-19th century. There she earned the nickname “The Lady With the Lamp,” as she visited the various tents around the camp – not unlike modern nurses making their rounds. Thanks to her strict use of hand-washing and hygiene practices, Nightingale and her helpers reduced the death rate from 42% to 2%. She gave nursing a favorable reputation and became and icon of Victorian culture. In 1860, Nightingale established of her nursing school at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London, which laid the foundation of professional nursing.

In the midst of a global pandemic,  we can still see some of the hygiene practices that Nightingale pioneered, are still effective today at combating and curtailing disease. For this, we thank “The Lady With the Lamp” for ushering in nursing as we know it today. More importantly, we praise those who have carried on her legacy in the profession of nursing. Now more than ever, our nurses continue to demonstrate that they are invaluable resources on the frontlines of the healthcare system.

Each year the American Nurses Association (ANA) chooses a theme to acknowledge the many services provided by nurses everywhere during National Nurses Week. This year’s theme: “Nurses: A Voice to Lead.” Take time today / this week to thank a nurse for their sacrifice!

Please use #NationalNursesDay to raise awareness on social media.