National Nurses Day and Week: May 6 and May 6-12, 2022

May 06, 2022

Release Number CB22-SFS.67

From The American Presidency Project, Proclamation 4913—National Recognition Day for Nurses, 1982: “Scientific advancements in recent years have dramatically expanded the role of nurses in our health care system, and their knowledge and skills have increased to keep pace with new technologies and methods of treatments.

“Yet, the very core of nursing—caring for patients at the bedside—remains unchanged. Nurses bring a special compassion and concern for the patient and for the patient's family.

“Nurses play a vital role in educating people in how to avoid illness and promote good health.

“Nurses are essential to every health care setting—in hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory care centers, and patients' homes.”

According to the American Nurses Association, “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.

Key Stats

Source: 2019 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-Year Estimates.

Related Information

Table B24124: Detailed Occupation for the Full-Time, Year-Round Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over

Note: Table B24124 above contains more than 560 rows. We have highlighted five rows related to nursing. One other row not in this image is Nursing assistants (920,780). Click on the image for the full table.

Related Information

Table B24020, Sex by Occupation for the Full-Time, Year-Round Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over

Note: Table B24020 above is modified to highlight the rows for male and female “Registered nurses” and “Nurses, all other” in the list of occupations. Click on the table for all listed occupations.