The History of Nurses Day
Beginning May 6th and ending May 12th, Florence Nightingale’s birthday, America celebrates the most trusted professional; the nurse, a profession that saves lives and touches hearts.
The History of Nurses Day
1953 – A proposal is sent to President Eisenhower to honor “Nurse Day” the following year. The proposal is sent by Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare and it goes unanswered.
1954 – October 11-16 is celebrated as National Nurse Week, recognizing the centennial anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s work in the Crimean War.
1972 – Another bid for “National Registered Nurse Day” goes to the White House, but again goes unsupported.
1974 – The International Council of Nurses announces May 12 as "International Nurse Day" and one month later, President Nixon issues a formal proclamation designating a National Nurses Week.
1978 – The governor of New Jersey, Brendon Byre, names May 6 as “Nurses Day.”
1981 – The ANA rallies to have May 6 established as “National Recognition Day for Nurses,” following the lead of New Mexico congressman Manuel Lujan.
1982 – The ANA formally recognizes May 6 as “National Nurses Day,” alongside an action of Congress designating the date as “National Recognition Day for Nurses.” Ronald Reagan signs the official proclamation.
1990 – The ANA Board of Directors gives recognition to the entire week of May 6th-May 12th as a spotlight on national nursing.
1996 -The ANA initiates "National RN Recognition Day" on May 6, 1996.
1997- The ANA Board of Directors, at the request of the National Student Nurses Association, designates May 8 as National Student Nurses Day.
2002 - The ANA declares that, beginning in 2003, the Wednesday that falls during the May 6 - 12 recognition week will be designated annually as School Nurses Recognition Day.
Source - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Nightingale