How to celebrate Nurses Week as a nurse

It’s National Nurses’ Week and we’re busy celebrating all nurses by telling them how much we appreciate them, creating eCards and videos just to thank them, offering special savings on education programs, and more! Nurses deserve as much love and support as we can give them, and we’re happy to oblige. 

National Nurses week was officially founded in 1993. It kicks off each year on May 6 and runs through May 12 — the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. The dates of Nurses Week remain the same each year, regardless of the day of the week on which May 6 falls. 

Nurses Week is a time to celebrate nurses for their dedication and commitment to our healthcare. It’s also a time to do something special for the nurses in your life to show them how much you appreciate them and make sure that they feel loved. 

But how can you celebrate nurses week as a nurse yourself? 

No matter where you work, your role as a nurse is vital to the health and well-being of those around you. You deserve to be recognized for your efforts, and so do the other nurses around you. Here are a few ways to not only celebrate, but also to show your appreciation during National Nurses Week. 

Take some time for yourself. 

Make it a priority to do something just for you this week, whether that’s getting a pedicure, stopping for Starbucks, indulging in a special treat, or simply sitting down to read a book and enjoying some peace and quiet. You deserve a break, so make it a point to take one, no matter how small, this week. 

Reflect on this past year as a nurse. 

Take a few moments to think about all that you’ve accomplished, the people you’ve helped, the friends you’ve made on the job, and the impact you’ve had on the profession this year. Embrace the times when you truly made a difference and let go of the times when the outcome wasn’t what you expected or desired. 

Do something fun with your coworkers. 

Go out to eat together on your lunch break or after work. Bake some cookies or a special treat and place it in the break room. Do something to celebrate with your coworkers and show them that you appreciate them and like having them as a part of your team. 

Recognize someone who has made an impact on your nursing career. 

Send an email, letter, or card to someone who has made a difference in your nursing career. This could be a nurse educator who took extra time to make sure you understood a concept, a mentor who helped you become the nurse you are today, or even a coworker who knows when to give you a good laugh or make you smile. Make sure they know how special they are and how much they mean to you this week. 

Engage with the community. 

Help promote the nursing profession by engaging with the community around you and educating others about the role nurses play in healthcare. This could mean volunteering for career day at a local school, getting involved in a local non-profit, planning to go on a relief or mission trip to provide medical care for those in need, writing a letter to elected officials about ongoing healthcare issues, or simply sharing a tribute to nurses on social media. 

Get the education you need to further your nursing career. 

The demand for qualified nurses continues to grow each year and is not expected to decline any time soon. What better way is there to celebrate nurses week than by getting the education you need to make an even bigger impact on the profession? Are you an LPN or CNA? Maybe it’s time to begin an RN bridge program. Are you an RN? Maybe you should consider earning your BSN or MSN degree. 

No matter how you choose to celebrate, don’t let this week go by without expressing gratitude for your profession and the nurses around you. Happy Nurses Week from Achieve! 

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