It’s hard to believe that the year 2015 is already into the month of May. While April showers bring May flowers, May also brings a very important week – National Nurses Week! Nurses Week is a time to celebrate – and I think even more importantly, honor the crucial contributions that nurses make to the health and well-being of every one of us around the country.
Beginning in 1953, many attempts were made to enact an official national observance of nurses. Then, in 1982, President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation declaring May 6th as National Nurses Day. And in 1990, the American Nurses Association declared May 6-12 as the permanent dates to celebrate National Nurses Week.
It’s right and fitting that we single out a time of year to honor these heroes of the medical profession – nurses. No matter what their patients require – care, comfort, humor, gently (and sometimes not so gently) badgering, in the end nurses save lives.
Nurses, you are on the front lines, literally and figuratively, of a ceaseless war against suffering. We all owe you. “Thank you” does not seem even close to being enough for what you bring to help humanity. From our hearts to yours, we thank you for being there in our time of hurt and need. The world is a better place because of who you are.
Happy National Nurses Week 2015!
