In 1971, ICN designated May 12, the birthday of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale, as International Nurses Day. In 1985, CNA members passed a resolution to begin negotiations with the federal government to have the week containing May 12 proclaimed as National Nurses Week annually. Soon after, the federal minister of health proclaimed the second week of May as National Nurses Week. In 1993, the name was changed to National Nursing Week to emphasize the profession’s accomplishments as a discipline.
Ideas for celebrating: Host a virtual birthday event to honour of the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. On social media, tell others about the diversity of your role and your nursing story using #CNA2020 #IND2020 #Nurses2020 #NationalNursingWeek #SupportNursesandMidwives #YearoftheNurseandMidwife #YearoftheNurse. Follow CNA on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. Post a picture with your team on social media and remember to tag us #CNA2020 #IND2020 #Nurses2020 #NationalNursingWeek #SupportNursesandMidwives #YearoftheNurseandMidwife #YearoftheNurse. Be personal: write thank-you notes as a sign of your appreciation for all that your nursing staff does for patients daily. Such gestures have become increasingly rare, so this simple act of recognition can make a profound difference in employee morale.
- Provided by CNA