The week of May 6 to May 12 was Nurses Week. The outbreak of COVID – 19 has helped a lot of people realize how much nurses really do help every day and the integral role they play. This year companies went all out to show their support for Nurses Week 2021. Dunkin Donuts offered free coffees for nurses throughout the week and Chipotle offered free burritos!

In 1953, Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare proposed the idea of having a National Nurses Day to President Eisenhower in October, however, the proclamation was never officially made. On March 25, 1982, President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation declaring May 6 to be the official National Recognition Day for Nurses. Then, in 1990, The ANA (American Nurses Association) Board of Directors expanded the recognition to nurses too a full week, May 6 to May 12. 

The theme for nurses week 2021 was Nurses: A Voice to Lead – a Vision for Future Healthcare. The theme is to focus awareness on the need for nurses to become more active and vocal in policy development. The theme color is blue. Blue indicates depth, stability, trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence and intelligence. The color blue lowers blood pressure and eases anxiety. This trusting instinct you feel when seeing the color blue is essential for the nursing profession. It’s not a coincidence that NHS (National Health Service) logos are blue and green!

All in all, it’s important now, more then ever, to show support for these essential workers. It is necessary to show awareness for the nursing profession as well as the unique and important contributions nurses make to society every day. Nurses Week’s purpose is to honor the nurses for the work that they do.