Ever wonder how National Nurses Week got started? Read below and find out.

History of National Nurses Week

National Nurses Week is celebrated every year beginning May 6th and ending May 12th on Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Join us in celebrating the men and women who serve this country by caring for its citizens.        1953 Dorothy Sutherland of the U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare proposed to President Eisenhower to proclaim a “Nurses Day” to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s mission to the Crimea. However the proclamation was never made.       National Nurses Week was observed, regardless, in 1954 from October 11 – 16 thanks to a bill sponsored by Representative Frances P. Bolton. A bill for a National Nurses Week was introduced in 1955 to Congress, but still, no action was taken. 1965 The International Council of Nurses (ICN) began celebrating “International Nurse Day”. The House of Representatives presented a resolution in 1972 to President Nixon to proclaim “National Registered Nurse Day”.  Again, no action was taken. In January of 1974, ICN proclaims that May 12 (the birthday of Florence Nightingale) would be “International Nurse Day”. In February, President Nixon proclaims National Nurse Week. After that, in 1978 New Jersey Governor Brendon Byrne declared May 6 as “National Nurses Day” for his state. Then in1981, the ANA (American Nurses Association) rallied with other nurses associations to support a resolution initiated by nurses in New Mexico, through Congressman Manuel Lujan, to have May 6, 1982, established as “National Recognition Day for Nurses”.

In February 1982, the ANA Board of Directors formally acknowledges May 6, 1982 as “National Nurses Day”.

This action confirmed a joint resolution of the United States Congress designating May 6 as “National Recognition Day for Nurses”.

      On March 25th 1982, President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation officially declaring May 6, 1982 as “National Recognition Day for Nurses”. In 1990 The American Nursing Association Board of Directors expanded the recognition of nurses to a week-long celebration, declaring May 6 – 12, 1991 as National Nurses Week. In 1993 the ANA Board of Directors designated May 6 – 12 as lasting dates to observe National Nurses Week

Presidential Proclamation — National Volunteer Week, 2012

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK, 2012

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Our Nation has been profoundly shaped by ordinary Americans who have volunteered their time and energy to overcome extraordinary challenges. From the American Revolution and the Seneca Falls Convention to the everyday acts of compassion and purpose that move millions to make change in their communities, our Nation has always been at its best when individuals have come together to realize a common vision. As we continue to pursue progress, service and social innovation will play an essential role in achieving our highest ambitions — from a world-class education for every child to an economy built to last. During National Volunteer Week, we pay tribute to all who give of themselves to keep America strong, and we renew the spirit of service that has enriched our country for generations.

That spirit lives on today in countless acts of service around our country. When one of the deadliest tornadoes in our Nation’s history touched down in Joplin, Missouri, in May 2011, thousands of volunteers stepped forward to serve their fellow citizens. They turned a university into a hospital. They repurposed doors for stretchers. They rushed food to those in need and filled trucks with donations. To date, they have committed more than half a million hours to bringing support and shelter to a community during a time of profound hardship and heartache. In Joplin and across America, we see the transformative power of service — to unite, to build, to heal.

My Administration remains steadfast in our commitment to empower more Americans with tools to shape their communities. During my first 100 days in office, I was proud to sign the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, a landmark national service law that laid out a strategy to link service with innovation, established the groundbreaking Social Innovation Fund, and charted the expansion of AmeriCorps. Last month, we launched FEMA Corps, a new service corps that will enhance our national capacity for disaster response and prepare its members for careers in emergency management. Through United We Serve and national service days, we continue to connect individuals young and old to new opportunities to reinvent their world through service — from fighting hunger and expanding access to healthy, affordable food to mentoring young people and fostering literacy. In all of these efforts, we are reminded how volunteer work can expand opportunity not only for those in need, but also for those who give. Service can teach valuable skills that pave the way to long-term employment and stay with volunteers throughout their careers and lives.

Service is a lifelong pursuit that strengthens the civic and economic fabric of our Nation. With every hour and every act, our lives are made richer, our communities are drawn closer, and our country is forged stronger by the dedication and generous spirit of volunteers. I encourage every American to stand up and play their part — to put their shoulder up against the wheel and help change history’s course