May 6, 2020
Image: Florence Nightingale - wikipedia.com
In this time of pandemic, let's take a minute today, National Nurse's Day to think about what these people are doing to care for those of us who have been unfortunate enough to contract COVID-19. Every day they literally put their lives on the line, caring for patients, seeing to their needs, making sure they get the medicines that will treat the virus and exposing themselves to fall victim to the very virus they're trying to treat. Here from articles in pharmacytimes.com and nursingworld.com we learn what the day and following week are all about.
Today marks National Nurses Day, a celebration for these health care professionals and recognition of their vast contributions and positive impacts in the lives of patients and their families. The day begins the National Nurses Week (NNW), which ends on May 12, in honor of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale’s birthday.
The national day of recognition follows a recent statement made by Senator Maureen Walsh regarding a bill that would provide uninterrupted rest breaks and meals for registered and licensed practical nurses, except in certain cases. The senator remarked that nurses in smaller hospitals “probably play cards for a considerable amount of the day,” according to a Contemporary Clinic article.
Taking Time to Appreciate Nurses
In opposition to the senator’s statement, many of the approximately 4 million registered nurses in the United States are using the national day and week of recognition to bring to light the working conditions that many of them endure on a daily basis. Oftentimes, nurses are placed in conflicting and stressful situations without a moment’s rest. According to a 2016 report through the Bureau of Labor Statistics, workplace hazards for registered nurses resulted in 19,790 nonfatal injuries and illnesses that required at least 1 day away from work.1
Many registered nurses and other health care professions have expressed hope that a dialogue of nurse’s active work within the industry will serve as a catalyst for change.
The American Nurses Association began the National Nurse Day on May 6, 1996 to “honor the nation’s indispensable registered nurses for their tireless commitment 365 days a year.”2 NNW also includes May 8 as National Student Nurses Day.
National Nurses Week History
National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale's birthday. These permanent dates enhance planning and position National Nurses Week as an established recognition event. As of 1998, May 8 was designated as National Student Nurses Day, to be celebrated annually. And as of 2003, National School Nurse Day is celebrated on the Wednesday within National Nurses Week (May 6-12) each year.
The nursing profession has been supported and promoted by the American Nurses Association (ANA) since 1896. Each of ANA's state and territorial nurses associations promotes the nursing profession at the state and regional levels. Each conducts celebrations on these dates to recognize the contributions that nurses and nursing make to the community.
The ANA supports and encourages National Nurses Week recognition programs through the state and district nurses associations, other specialty nursing organizations, educational facilities, and independent health care companies and institutions.
A Brief History of National Nurses Week
1953 Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare sent a proposal to President Eisenhower to proclaim a "Nurse Day" in October of the following year. The proclamation was never made.
1954 National Nurse Week was observed from October 11 - 16. The year of the observance marked the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale's mission to Crimea. Representative Frances P. Bolton sponsored the bill for a nurse week. Apparently, a bill for a National Nurse Week was introduced in the 1955 Congress, but no action was taken. Congress discontinued its practice of joint resolutions for national weeks of various kinds.
1972 Again a resolution was presented by the House of Representatives for the President to proclaim "National Registered Nurse Day." It did not occur.
1974 In January of that year, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) proclaimed that May 12 would be "International Nurse Day." (May 12 is the birthday of Florence Nightingale.) Since 1965, the ICN has celebrated "International Nurse Day."
1974 In February of that year, a week was designated by the White House as National Nurse Week, and President Nixon issued a proclamation.
1978 New Jersey Governor Brendon Byrne declared May 6 as "Nurses Day." Edward Scanlan, of Red Bank, N.J., took up the cause to perpetuate the recognition of nurses in his state. Mr. Scanlan had this date listed in Chase's Calendar of Annual Events. He promoted the celebration on his own.
1981 ANA, along with various nursing organizations, rallied to support a resolution initiated by nurses in New Mexico, through their Congressman, Manuel Lujan, to have May 6, 1982, established as "National Recognition Day for Nurses."
1982 In February, the ANA Board of Directors formally acknowledged May 6, 1982 as "National Nurses Day." The action affirmed a joint resolution of the United States Congress designating May 6 as "National Recognition Day for Nurses."
1982 President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation on March 25, proclaiming "National Recognition Day for Nurses" to be May 6, 1982.
1990 The ANA Board of Directors expanded the recognition of nurses to a week-long celebration, declaring May 6 - 12, 1991, as National Nurses Week.
1993 The ANA Board of Directors designated May 6 - 12 as permanent dates to observe National Nurses Week in 1994 and in all subsequent years.
1996 The ANA initiated "National RN Recognition Day" on May 6, 1996, to honor the nation's indispensable registered nurses for their tireless commitment 365 days a year. The ANA encourages its state and territorial nurses associations and other organizations to acknowledge May 6, 1996 as "National RN Recognition Day."
Nightingale Pledges
Nightingale Pledge, 1935
I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practise my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping, and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavour to aid the physician in his work, and as a 'missioner of health' I will dedicate myself to devoted service to human welfare.
Nightingale Pledge, 1893
I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practise my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping, and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavour to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.
This pledge was created in 1893 by a committee led by Lystra Gretter. Gretter updated the final sentence of the pledge to reflect a more public health model in 1935.
Reference: Marsha D. M. Fowler, 1984, Ethics and nursing, 1893-1984: the ideal of service, the reality of history, Ph.D. thesis, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
I Am Your Registered Nurse poster
The Truth About Nursing has created a poster called "I Am Your Registered Nurse" that helps define nursing responsibilites for the public. While this is not exactly a pledge, it is a statement that defines nursing, much as the Nightingale pledge does, and helps to articulate for everyone, including nurses themselves, the range of important responsibilities of nursing.
1997 The ANA Board of Directors, at the request of the National Student Nurses Association, designated May 8 as National Student Nurses Day.
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