National Nurses Week 2027

When is National Nurses Week?

National Nurses Week takes place from Thursday 6 May to Wednesday 12 May 2027. The dates are fixed every year – always 6 to 12 May – so they never shift. The week opens on National Nurses Day and closes on Florence Nightingale’s birthday, which is also observed worldwide as International Nurses Day.

This year's campaign

National Nurses Week runs from 6 to 12 May each year across the United States, honouring the millions of registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and nursing professionals who form the backbone of the American healthcare system. The week begins on National Nurses Day and concludes on 12 May, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Check the American Nurses Association’s applicable-year campaign before using a 2027 theme.

How to Get Involved in National Nurses Week

Whether you work alongside nurses, rely on their care, or simply want to show appreciation, there are many meaningful ways to participate:

• Write a personal thank-you note – A handwritten message carries far more weight than a generic card. Mention a specific moment or quality you appreciate about a nurse you know. Many nurses say personal notes are the most valued recognition they receive.
• Organise a team appreciation lunch – Coordinate a catered meal for a nursing unit or clinic. Avoid the cliche pizza in the break room – opt for something nourishing that fuels a long shift, such as a proper meal with healthy options.
• Give practical, thoughtful gifts – Compression socks, quality hand lotion, reusable water bottles, and coffee gift cards consistently rank as nurses’ preferred gifts. Avoid empty-calorie snacks and generic branded items.
• Support the “Nurses Light Up the Sky” campaign – The ANA illuminates landmarks across the country each year. You can suggest a building in your area by emailing NursesWeek@ana.org, or simply share photos of illuminated landmarks on social media.
• Advocate for better working conditions – Use the week as an opportunity to contact your elected representatives about safe staffing ratios, nurse wellbeing programmes, and funding for nursing education. The ANA provides advocacy toolkits to help.
• Recognise school nurses too. NASN defines School Nurse Day as the Wednesday within National Nurses Week; calculated for 2027, that is 12 May, rather than the opening day of the week. NASN date rule
• Share stories on social media – Post about a nurse who has made a difference in your life using the hashtags #ThePowerOfNurses and #NursesWeek 2027. Genuine stories reach further than generic posts and help elevate the profession’s visibility.

Why National Nurses Week Matters

Beyond the numbers, nurses are often the primary point of contact for patients. They administer treatments, monitor conditions, advocate for patient safety, and provide emotional support during some of life’s most difficult moments. Recognising their work is not merely a gesture – it is a reminder of the critical infrastructure that nurses provide across every corner of healthcare.

Noteworthy Facts About National Nurses Week

• Florence Nightingale was born on 12 May 1820 in Florence, Italy – the city from which her parents took her name.
• Nursing schools turn away tens of thousands of qualified applicants from baccalaureate and graduate programmes each year, largely due to faculty shortages.
• The ANA’s “Nurses Light Up the Sky” campaign illuminates hundreds of landmarks across the United States each year.
• Several of the fastest-growing occupations in the United States are in the nursing profession.

What is National Nurses Week?

National Nurses Week is the annual United States observance from 6 to 12 May. National Nurses Day is 6 May; International Nurses Day is 12 May. School Nurse Day is a separate observance held on the Wednesday within Nurses Week, according to NASN. Its 2027 date is therefore calculated as Wednesday 12 May. NASN’s School Nurse Day rule

When is National Nurses Week in 2027?

National Nurses Week 2027 runs from Thursday 6 May to Wednesday 12 May 2027. The dates are the same every year.

What is the National Nurses Week theme?

Check the American Nurses Association’s applicable-year campaign page before using a theme or annual slogan. A previous edition’s message should keep its original year label.

Is National Nurses Week only in the United States?

Yes, National Nurses Week (6–12 May) is a US observance led by the ANA. However, International Nurses Day on 12 May is celebrated globally, and many countries hold their own nursing recognition events throughout the year.

Links

• Visit the American Nurses Association (ANA) website
• National Nurses Week – official ANA campaign page
• Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com

History of National Nurses Week

The idea of a dedicated week for nurses has roots stretching back over seven decades. The very first observance took place in 1954, marking the centennial of Florence Nightingale’s pioneering mission during the Crimean War. During that conflict, Nightingale and her team of nurses transformed the unsanitary conditions at a British field hospital in Scutari, reducing the death rate among wounded soldiers by two-thirds. Her legacy as the founder of modern nursing made her birthday – 12 May – the natural anchor for nursing celebrations worldwide.

Progress toward an official, permanent observance was slow. In 1974, President Richard Nixon proclaimed a National Nurse Week following a White House designation. However, it was not until 1982 that the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution establishing 6 May as National Recognition Day for Nurses, which the ANA Board of Directors formally endorsed. The single day expanded into a full week in 1990, when the ANA declared 6–12 May 1991 as National Nurses Week. Three years later, in 1993, the ANA Board fixed the 6–12 May dates permanently for all future years.

Since then, each year has carried a specific theme chosen by the ANA. Meanwhile, the International Council of Nurses champions a complementary global theme for International Nurses Day on 12 May. If you are interested in the global observance, we have a dedicated page for International Nurses Day.

Related Awareness Days

• International Nurses Day – Celebrated globally on 12 May, the final day of National Nurses Week, marking Florence Nightingale’s birthday and the contributions of nurses worldwide.
• World Hand Hygiene Day – Observed on 5 May, just one day before Nurses Week begins, this WHO-led campaign highlights a practice central to nursing care and patient safety.
• National Grateful Patient Day – Held on 7 September, this day encourages patients to thank the healthcare professionals – including nurses – who cared for them.