{"id":2094,"date":"2020-05-07T18:32:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-07T18:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/?p=2094"},"modified":"2025-10-08T14:33:33","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T22:33:33","slug":"nurses-week-a-brief-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history","title":{"rendered":"Nurses Week: A Brief History"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">In This Article<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history\/#Whats_the_story_behind_Nurses_Week\" >What&#8217;s the story behind Nurses Week?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history\/#Who_was_Florence_Nightingale\" >Who was Florence Nightingale?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history\/#How_is_Nurses_Week_celebrated\" >How is Nurses Week celebrated?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history\/#Ways_to_Honor_Nurses_During_Nurses_Week\" >Ways to Honor Nurses During Nurses Week<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history\/#For_School_Nurses\" >For School Nurses<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history\/#For_Your_Staff\" >For Your Staff<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history\/#For_Home_Health_Nurses_in_Your_Life\" >For Home Health Nurses in Your Life<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history\/#Say_Thank_You\" >Say Thank You<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history\/#Gift_Cards_for_Local_Restaurants\" >Gift Cards for Local Restaurants<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history\/#Discounts_for_Nurses\" >Discounts for Nurses<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history\/#The_Year_of_the_Nurse_and_Midwife\" >The Year of the Nurse and Midwife<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history\/#Celebrate_Nurses_This_Week%E2%80%94and_Beyond\" >Celebrate Nurses This Week\u2014and Beyond!<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Join Osmosis in celebrating and supporting the hardworking nurses and nursing students in our hospitals, care homes, and clinics. From Osmosis to nurses everywhere: thank you for your service!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each year, we set aside a week to celebrate the unsung heroes of our hospitals, care homes, and clinics, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nurses Week has gained even greater significance\u2014as has Year of the Nurse and Midwife, which the WHO extended from 2020 into 2021 in recognition of the hard work of Nurses in this challenging year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nursing Week kicked off yesterday, May 6. May 8 is National Student Nurses Day in the US, and May 12 (Florence Nightingale&#8217;s Birthday) has been National School Nurse Day since 2003.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every nurse, in every setting, plays an important role in healthcare. Read on to learn about the history of Nurses Week and how you can celebrate and honor a nurse this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Whats_the_story_behind_Nurses_Week\"><\/span>What&#8217;s the story behind Nurses Week?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first National Nurses Week was celebrated in October of 1954 to mark the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale\u2019s mission to Crimea. The next year, a bill was introduced to Congress to make the celebration an annual one. That bill failed, as did another in 1972. In 1974, President Nixon issued a proclamation designating a week in February to commemorate nursing, but this idea fell by the wayside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite these repeated attempts by nursing organizations and supporters around the country, the holiday did not become nationally recognized until President Reagan\u2019s proclamation of National Nurses Day on May 6, 1982. In 1990, the American Nurses Association (ANA) expanded the celebration to be a week long, ending on May 12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/create\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/ACE-NCLEX-RN-banner.png?w=700\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-252\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/ACE-NCLEX-RN-banner.png 700w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/ACE-NCLEX-RN-banner.png?resize=300,107 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_was_Florence_Nightingale\"><\/span>Who was Florence Nightingale?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Florence Nightingale was a British woman who pioneered advancements in the field of nursing during the mid-to-late 19th century. Born to an upper-class family, she rejected the socially mandated life of a wealthy wife to pursue her calling to treat the sick and injured. During the Crimean War, she led an expedition of nurses to treat wounded soldiers. Her application of sanitary principles helped dramatically reduce the death rate there.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the war, Nightingale returned to England and founded the Nightingale Training School, now known as the Florence Nightingale School for Nursing and Midwifery. In 1883, Nightingale became the first recipient of the Royal Red Cross. She is widely considered to be the founder of modern nursing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_is_Nurses_Week_celebrated\"><\/span>How is Nurses Week celebrated?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are a variety of nursing and health organizations, each of which celebrates Nurses Week a little differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ANA Enterprise, the umbrella organization that covers the American Nurses Association, the American Nurses Credentialing Center, and the American Nurse Foundation, hosts events and a speaker series highlighting nurses&#8217; contributions and leadership.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every year, the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.icn.ch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">International Council of Nurses<\/a>&nbsp;(ICN) marks May 12, the final day of Nurses Week, as International Nurses Day. They commemorate this by producing new resources and conducting research to support the nursing practice. The ICN has chosen the theme of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.icnvoicetolead.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A Voice to Lead: A Vision for Future Healthcare<\/a>, focusing on change and innovation in the field, and how these will contribute to a better environment for nurses and their clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many doctor\u2019s offices, hospitals, and other nursing settings find their own creative ways to celebrate and thank the nurses who work there. There are many ways to join in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ways_to_Honor_Nurses_During_Nurses_Week\"><\/span>Ways to Honor Nurses During Nurses Week<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are a variety of large-scale celebrations for Nurses Week to honor the nurses in our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"For_School_Nurses\"><\/span>For School Nurses<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">School nurses don\u2019t just help kids with band-aids for scrapes from the playground. They also administer daily medications and interventions for more serious troubles. They&#8217;re there to care for our kids when parents can\u2019t be with them. To celebrate them, involve the school\u2019s students in creating cards, gifts, and videos that show how much their school nurse(s) means to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"For_Your_Staff\"><\/span>For Your Staff<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you run a medical office or clinic, there are many ways to mark this week. Find out what your nurses like and give personalized gifts. And a nice lunch for the staff to enjoy is always a good thing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"For_Home_Health_Nurses_in_Your_Life\"><\/span>For Home Health Nurses in Your Life<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The nurses who come into our houses to care for homebound patients can become integral parts of our lives. If you can, seek out a special treat or gift that you know will acknowledge their dedication and brighten their day. Take a moment to care for the person who helps care for your loved one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Say_Thank_You\"><\/span>Say Thank You<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even if you don\u2019t come into regular contact with nurses, you can still offer your support. Organize letter-writing campaigns to send thank-you cards to nurses in your community. This personal connection goes a long way to making nurses feel appreciated. You can also easily&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/spreadjoy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">send an Osmosis Spread Joy card<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"717\" height=\"478\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/we-appreciate-you.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2099\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/we-appreciate-you.jpg 717w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/we-appreciate-you.jpg?resize=300,200 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 717px) 100vw, 717px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Gift_Cards_for_Local_Restaurants\"><\/span>Gift Cards for Local Restaurants<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many restaurants offer delivery and take-out; sending gift cards to nurses helps commemorate the holiday and support local businesses at the same time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Discounts_for_Nurses\"><\/span>Discounts for Nurses<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Companies around the country offer&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/money\/2020\/05\/01\/freebies-and-discounts-nurses-during-national-nurses-week\/3065051001\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">freebies and discounts<\/a>&nbsp;during Nurses Week\u2014including Osmosis!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/create\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/2024-09-11T091829.861.png?w=700\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1952\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/2024-09-11T091829.861.png 700w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/2024-09-11T091829.861.png?resize=300,107 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Year_of_the_Nurse_and_Midwife\"><\/span>The Year of the Nurse and Midwife<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared&nbsp;2020 the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/campaigns\/year-of-the-nurse-and-the-midwife-2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Year of the Nurse and Midwife<\/a>. Not only does 2020 mark Florence Nightingale&#8217;s 200th birthday, but it&#8217;s also the final year of Nursing Now. This international campaign, a project created by the WHO and the International Council of Nurses, focused on developing nurses&#8217; voices and leadership&nbsp;in institutions and policy-making bodies around the world.In recognition of the work nurses around the world have been doing to fight the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/plans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">COVID-19<\/a>&nbsp;pandemic, the Year of the Nurse was&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/campaigns\/annual-theme\/year-of-the-nurse-and-the-midwife-2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">extended into 2021<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Celebrate_Nurses_This_Week%E2%80%94and_Beyond\"><\/span>Celebrate Nurses This Week\u2014and Beyond!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The importance of nurses cannot be overstated. The people who join this profession sign on to serve and care for people in many of life\u2019s most difficult situations. Nurses are integral to safe and caring medical treatment every day. Now, during the time of a serious pandemic, we have seen nurses step up in ever more selfless and essential ways. From Osmosis to nurses everywhere:&nbsp;<strong>thank you for your service.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/create\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/hm-healthdigital-multisite.go-vip.net\/osmosisblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/05\/bite-size-lectures-orange-ad.png?w=700\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5197\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/05\/bite-size-lectures-orange-ad.png 700w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/05\/bite-size-lectures-orange-ad.png?resize=300,107 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Try Osmosis today! Access your\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/login?type=create\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free trial<\/a>\u00a0and find out why millions of clinicians and caregivers love learning with us.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Join Osmosis in celebrating and supporting the hardworking nurses and nursing students in our hospitals, care homes, and clinics. From Osmosis to nurses everywhere: thank you for your service! Each year, we set aside a week to celebrate the unsung heroes of our hospitals, care homes, and clinics, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nurses Week [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":228,"featured_media":2095,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nursing"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Nurses Week: A Brief History - Osmosis Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Nurses Week: A Brief History - Osmosis Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Join Osmosis in celebrating and supporting the hardworking nurses and nursing students in our hospitals, care homes, and clinics. From Osmosis to nurses everywhere: thank you for your service! Each year, we set aside a week to celebrate the unsung heroes of our hospitals, care homes, and clinics, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nurses Week [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Osmosis Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-05-07T18:32:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-08T22:33:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/nurses-week-a-brief-history.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Fergus Baird, MA\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":[\"Article\",\"BlogPosting\"],\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Fergus Baird, MA\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/55362d40d780cdf73d94d47eae69dc74\"},\"headline\":\"Nurses Week: A Brief History\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-05-07T18:32:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-08T22:33:33+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history\"},\"wordCount\":1056,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/nurses-week-a-brief-history.webp\",\"articleSection\":[\"Registered Nursing (RN)\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history\",\"name\":\"Nurses Week: A Brief History - Osmosis Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/nurses-week-a-brief-history.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-05-07T18:32:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-08T22:33:33+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/nurses-week-a-brief-history.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/nurses-week-a-brief-history.webp\",\"width\":1080,\"height\":1080},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Nurses Week: A Brief History\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Osmosis Blog\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Osmosis Blog\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/OsmosisElsevierStacked.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/OsmosisElsevierStacked.png\",\"width\":1276,\"height\":596,\"caption\":\"Osmosis Blog\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/55362d40d780cdf73d94d47eae69dc74\",\"name\":\"Fergus Baird, MA\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/bdc66a13340d6f9c8d5fdcf734e7c111e71aad4bcc41a710fa3af340941490cb?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/bdc66a13340d6f9c8d5fdcf734e7c111e71aad4bcc41a710fa3af340941490cb?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Fergus Baird, MA\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/fergus-baird-3bb80285\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/author\/fergusbaird\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Nurses Week: A Brief History - Osmosis Blog","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Nurses Week: A Brief History - Osmosis Blog","og_description":"Join Osmosis in celebrating and supporting the hardworking nurses and nursing students in our hospitals, care homes, and clinics. From Osmosis to nurses everywhere: thank you for your service! Each year, we set aside a week to celebrate the unsung heroes of our hospitals, care homes, and clinics, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nurses Week [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history","og_site_name":"Osmosis Blog","article_published_time":"2020-05-07T18:32:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-10-08T22:33:33+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1080,"height":1080,"url":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/nurses-week-a-brief-history.webp","type":"image\/webp"}],"author":"Fergus Baird, MA","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":["Article","BlogPosting"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history"},"author":{"name":"Fergus Baird, MA","@id":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/55362d40d780cdf73d94d47eae69dc74"},"headline":"Nurses Week: A Brief History","datePublished":"2020-05-07T18:32:00+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-08T22:33:33+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history"},"wordCount":1056,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/nurses-week-a-brief-history.webp","articleSection":["Registered Nursing (RN)"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history","url":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history","name":"Nurses Week: A Brief History - Osmosis Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/nurses-week-a-brief-history.webp","datePublished":"2020-05-07T18:32:00+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-08T22:33:33+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/nurses-week-a-brief-history.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/nurses-week-a-brief-history.webp","width":1080,"height":1080},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/nurses-week-a-brief-history#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Nurses Week: A Brief History"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/","name":"Osmosis Blog","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/#organization","name":"Osmosis Blog","url":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/OsmosisElsevierStacked.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/OsmosisElsevierStacked.png","width":1276,"height":596,"caption":"Osmosis Blog"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/55362d40d780cdf73d94d47eae69dc74","name":"Fergus Baird, MA","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/bdc66a13340d6f9c8d5fdcf734e7c111e71aad4bcc41a710fa3af340941490cb?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/bdc66a13340d6f9c8d5fdcf734e7c111e71aad4bcc41a710fa3af340941490cb?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Fergus Baird, MA"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/fergus-baird-3bb80285\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/author\/fergusbaird"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/nurses-week-a-brief-history.webp","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1555,"url":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/alternative-careers-in-nursing","url_meta":{"origin":2094,"position":0},"title":"Alternative Careers in Nursing","author":"Sherryl Castro, RN","date":"May 16, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Nursing is a complex and evolving profession that offers endless career opportunities. Depending on location, skills or interests, as well as financial capabilities and experiences, obtaining a nursing degree can lead to many opportunities in different healthcare settings. In this article, we break down the different career paths for nursing,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Career Advice&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Career Advice","link":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/category\/career-advice"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/alternative-careers-in-nursing.webp","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/alternative-careers-in-nursing.webp 1x, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/alternative-careers-in-nursing.webp 1.5x, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/alternative-careers-in-nursing.webp 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":693,"url":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/5-important-trends-in-nursing-in-2023","url_meta":{"origin":2094,"position":1},"title":"5 Important Trends in Nursing in 2023","author":"Alicia Betz, MAEd","date":"November 14, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The face of healthcare today isn't just about helping patients in hospital rooms; nurses and other healthcare providers have made careers where patients need them. In our newest blog, discover five top career trends for nurses in 2023. According to the\u00a0Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for registered nurses will increase\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Registered Nursing (RN)&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Registered Nursing (RN)","link":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/category\/nursing"},"img":{"alt_text":"5 Important Trends in Nursing in 2023","src":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/33.webp","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/33.webp 1x, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/33.webp 1.5x, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/33.webp 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1099,"url":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/expectations-vs-reality-what-being-a-nurse-is-really-like","url_meta":{"origin":2094,"position":2},"title":"Expectations vs. Reality: What being a nurse is really like","author":"Elizabeth Lucas, EdD, RN, CNE &amp; Paige Randall, PhD, MS, RN, CNE","date":"December 15, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"We're debunking common myths and sharing practical tips on education, workload, mentorship, and professional growth to help new nurses thrive in today\u2019s demanding healthcare environment.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Career Advice&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Career Advice","link":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/category\/career-advice"},"img":{"alt_text":"Expectations vs. Reality: What being a nurse is really like","src":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/12\/what-being-a-nurse-is-really-like.webp","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/12\/what-being-a-nurse-is-really-like.webp 1x, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/12\/what-being-a-nurse-is-really-like.webp 1.5x, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/12\/what-being-a-nurse-is-really-like.webp 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":348,"url":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/choosing-a-nursing-specialty-20-of-the-most-popular-career-tracks-for-nurses","url_meta":{"origin":2094,"position":3},"title":"Choosing a Nursing Specialty: 20 of the Most Popular Career Tracks for Nurses","author":"Jannah Amiel, MS, BSN, RN","date":"May 10, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Embark on your nursing career by exploring the top 20 nursing specialties. Get insights into each specialty and discover the diverse opportunities within nursing and find the path that aligns with your passions and skills!","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Career Advice&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Career Advice","link":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/category\/career-advice"},"img":{"alt_text":"Choosing a Nursing Specialty 20 of the Most Popular Career Tracks for Nurses","src":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2.webp","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2.webp 1x, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2.webp 1.5x, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/2.webp 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10027,"url":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/how-to-become-a-sexual-assault-nurse-examiner-sane","url_meta":{"origin":2094,"position":4},"title":"How to Become a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)","author":"Kristine Gromlovits, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC","date":"April 17, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Find out what it takes to become a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), from RN licensure to specialized forensic training. Explore certification pathways, essential skills, and the critical role SANEs play in trauma-informed care and evidence collection.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Career Advice&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Career Advice","link":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/category\/career-advice"},"img":{"alt_text":"How to Become a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)","src":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/How_to_Become_a_Sexual_Assault_Nurse_Examiner_SANE.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/How_to_Become_a_Sexual_Assault_Nurse_Examiner_SANE.jpg 1x, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/How_to_Become_a_Sexual_Assault_Nurse_Examiner_SANE.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/How_to_Become_a_Sexual_Assault_Nurse_Examiner_SANE.jpg 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4061,"url":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/how-to-empower-nurses-to-lead-the-way-in-global-healthcare","url_meta":{"origin":2094,"position":5},"title":"How to Empower Nurses to Lead the Way in Global Healthcare","author":"Maria Pfrommer, DNP, Ph.D., FNP-BC, RN &amp; Elizabeth Lucas, EdD, RN, CNE","date":"June 28, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Learn about key strategies for nurses to become leaders in global healthcare by developing skills, advocating for change, and utilizing emerging technologies.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Career Advice&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Career Advice","link":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/category\/career-advice"},"img":{"alt_text":"How to Empower Nurses to Lead the Way in Global Healthcare","src":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/nurses-to-global-healthcare.webp","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/nurses-to-global-healthcare.webp 1x, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/nurses-to-global-healthcare.webp 1.5x, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/nurses-to-global-healthcare.webp 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2094","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/228"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2094"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2094\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5248,"href":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2094\/revisions\/5248"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2095"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2094"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2094"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2094"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}