- Categories:
- Appreciation
- Tags:
- CareerCivic
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every May 6
- Holiday emoji:
- 👩‍⚕️
National Nurses Day recognizes the invaluable contributions of nurses every May 6. Take time to acknowledge the tireless work, compassion, and expertise of these healthcare professionals who make a profound difference in countless lives. Show your gratitude, share stories, and advocate for their well-being.
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Expected National Nurses Day Deals
National Nurses Day brings a wave of appreciation, with many brands and local businesses offering special discounts and freebies to nurses. While we wait for official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that retailers like Crocs, Starbucks, Chipotle, and Dunkin’ often provide deals on May 6 or throughout National Nurses Week. Healthcare systems and hospitals frequently host appreciation events, distribute gift bags, or offer catered meals to their nursing staff. Look for special offers from medical apparel brands such as FIGS and Cherokee Uniforms. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as May 6 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Nurses Day
Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #NationalNursesDay. Share stories of inspiring nurses or discuss the challenges and triumphs of the nursing profession.
X/Twitter
Mention @NatlToday and use #NationalNursesDay. Share quick messages of thanks, statistics about nursing’s impact, or links to support nursing initiatives.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalNursesDay. Post photos or reels celebrating nurses, highlighting their dedication, or showcasing appreciation efforts from your community.
National Nurses Day Hero
Florence Nightingale
History of National Nurses Day
National Nurses Day is the first day of National Nursing Week, which concludes on May 12, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Yet the week was first observed in the US in October 1954 to mark the 100th anniversary of Nightingale’s pioneering work in Crimea.
In 1953, Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare sent a proposal to President Eisenhower asking him to proclaim a “Nurse Day” in October of the following year to coincide with the anniversary. Although the President didn’t act, the celebration was observed thanks to a bill sponsored by Representative Frances P. Bolton, and the following year a new bill was introduced to Congress lobbying for official recognition of the celebration.
Twenty years later, in February of 1974, President Nixon proclaimed a National Nurse Week to be celebrated annually in May. Over the next eight years, various nursing organizations including the American Nurses Association (ANA) rallied to support calls for a “National Recognition Day for Nurses” on May 6, which was eventually proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1982.
With over 3 million working nurses in the US today, nurses make up the highest percentage of the US healthcare workforce. Although you might not imagine it, nurses are more likely to sustain a back injury on a shift than construction workers, and they walk an average of 5 kilometers per shift, as caring for others’ health is such an active job!
If you think nurses are only found in hospitals, then think again! The majority of registered nurses (59%) practice elsewhere, such as in a nursing home or on home visits. They work across communities to keep people worldwide happy and healthy, and National Nurses Day is the perfect opportunity to show your appreciation for their important work!
National Nurses Day timeline
Buddhist Indian ruler Ashoka ordered hospitals to be built along the routes of travelers.
The Crimean War begins, where Florence Nightingale would create the blueprint for modern day nursing.
The Bellevue Hospital School of Nursing is set up in New York, becoming the first school in the United States founded on Nightingale’s principles.
The first official celebration of National Nurses Day takes place in the United States.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Nurses Day
Local businesses can honor National Nurses Day by offering special promotions or services to nurses. Restaurants might provide discounts on meals, coffee shops could offer free beverages, and wellness centers could give reduced rates on services like massages. Retailers, especially those selling comfort items or self-care products, can create curated gift sets. Consider partnering with local hospitals or clinics to host small appreciation events or provide treats for their nursing staff, ensuring nurses feel genuinely valued for their tireless work.
Traditions of the Day
Always playing a big role in hospitals, the nursing staff is loved and appreciated on National Nurses Day. The most common tradition for expressing gratitude to registered nurses is throwing them a party — inclusive of all shifts. The celebration is hosted by the medical faculty and staff, with some even having fun decorations and nurse-themed cookies and cupcakes.Â
Volunteers are also active today, putting themselves in a nurse’s shoes to truly appreciate their work. Nurses spend a lot of grueling hours at the hospital, so their stories and encounters are also brought into the spotlight and documented by social media bloggers and storytellers.Â
The hospital staff and patients generously give gifts and donations to nurses as a token of gratitude for all their hard work. On a larger level, management and leaders within the healthcare sector present nurses with awards and certificates as a symbol of recognition.
By the Numbers
300 A.D. – the earliest date of the first recorded mentions of nurses.
4–5 – the number of miles nurses walk in every shift.
50% – the percentage of nursing students among the total number of healthcare students.
19 million – the number of nurses in the world.Â
41% – the percentage of registered nurses working in hospitals.
10% – the percentage of male registered nurses in the total workforce.
$35.24 – the median pay of a nurse per hour.
National Nurses Day FAQs
When is National Nurses Day?
In 2027, National Nurses Day will be observed on Thursday, May 6, kicking off a week-long celebration of the nursing profession. This day serves as an important reminder to express gratitude for their unwavering commitment.
How many registered nurses are there in the U.S.?
The U.S. nursing workforce continues to grow, with projections for 2027 indicating a sustained demand for registered nurses. This reflects their critical role in an aging population and evolving healthcare landscape.
What is the significance of May 6 for nurses?
The choice of May 6 to launch National Nurses Week underscores the collective effort to celebrate nursing. While Florence Nightingale’s birthday is later in the week, May 6 sets the stage for recognizing the entire profession.
Is National Nurses Day a federal holiday?
Despite its profound importance, National Nurses Day in 2027 will continue to be an observance rather than a federal holiday. Its status as a widely acknowledged day of recognition nonetheless ensures nurses receive well-deserved appreciation.
National Nurses Day Activities
Thank the nurses in your life
Nursing is known for being a "behind-the-scenes" profession. A simple "thank you for all you do" could make a nurse's day by showing that you notice their hard work. With more than 3 million registered nurses in the USA, chances are there is at least one nurse out there who would be thrilled to be the object of your gratitude.
Give the gift of caffeine
Nurses often work long, thankless shifts — standing on their feet for 12 or more hours a day. For a nurse on the run, there's nothing better than a boost of caffeine in the middle of a shift. Head over to your local clinic or hospital with copious amounts of coffee in tow, and tell the receptionist you're there to honor the nurses for National Nurses Day.
Learn about the woman responsible for it all
We've all heard the name Florence Nightingale. But do you know what made her famous? In honor of National Nurses Day, educate yourself about this groundbreaking woman who paved the way for modern nursing. Read an article — or better yet, watch a documentary — about "The Lady with the Lamp." Bonus points if you can recite the Florence Nightingale Pledge afterward!
5 Facts About Florence Nightingale
She knew six languages
Florence was fluent in English, French, German and Italian, with good knowledge of Latin and Ancient Greek too.
She trained America’s first nurse
Linda Richards attended Bellevue Training School before traveling to London to train under Nightingale at her School of Nursing.
She was named after her birthplace
Just like her older sister, Parthenope, Nightingale’s parents christened Florence with the name of the Italian town she was born in.
Her parents objected to nursing
Back then, it was considered a professional for the lower classes, and was linked to prostitution, so Mom and Dad took some convincing.
She owned a stuffed owl
Nightingale rescued her beloved owl from a group of youths playing in the street, and had her feathery friend stuffed when it died.
Why We Love National Nurses Day
Nurses are the backbone of medical care
Doctors may diagnose us, prescribe our medicines, and perform our surgeries, but without nurses, their jobs would be impossible. Nurses are on the front lines every day — administering shots, performing physical exams, nursing wounds, and in many cases, caring for dying patients when the doctor is away. Nurses are there for us during our most vulnerable moments.
Nurses are repeatedly ranked the most trusted profession
Chances are, nurses know more about you than anyone else in your life. They know your weight (and keep it a secret!), they've seen you naked, and they know all your vitals. But you can trust them. According to polls, more than 80% of Americans think nurses have either "high" or "very high" ethical standards.
Even when they're not working, they're nursing friends and family
If you're lucky enough to have a nurse in the family, you never have to worry about your health. Even when they're off the clock, nurses are always ready to give medical advice, administer medication, and fix us right up when something is wrong — even if that happens to be in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner.
Social Media Tips for National Nurses Day
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