Nurses Have the Power!

National Nurses Week, observed this year from May 6 to 12, recognizes the vital work being performed every minute of every day by millions of registered nurses in the U.S. and across the globe. The theme for 2025’s celebration is The Power of Nurses.

“We recognize the invaluable contributions of nurses worldwide and the real-life challenges they face every day,” says American Nurses Enterprise, a collective that includes the American Nurses Association (ANA), its philanthropic arm the American Nurses Foundation, and the American Nurses Credentialing Center. “Whether you're a nurse, a healthcare professional, a patient or simply someone who appreciates the critical role nurses play in our lives and society, National Nurses Week is the perfect time to share your gratitude and celebrate nurses.”

The popular Nurses Light Up the Sky campaign continues with this year’s National Nurses Week. In 2024, 85 landmarks were lit up for the week. The goal for 2025 is 100. ANA says the illuminated locations can serve as perfect destinations for local meetups during National Nurses Week. They also are a wonderful way to honor nurses, bring attention to the week, create opportunities for press coverage and provide fodder for social media posts using the hashtags #ThePowerOfNurses and #NursesLightUpTheSky.

There are three webinars in association with the celebration. The topics:

• May 5: code of ethics
• May 7: social justice
• May 9: redefining and elevating the power of nursing.

More information about the webinars, along with a free downloadable toolkit that includes printable posters, thank you cards, certificates of appreciation and other items that make it easy to participate in the week’s campaigns, is available here.

“In nursing, the time for transformation is always,” states ANA. “Every day we are leading a quiet revolution to create impactful, meaningful change within our profession. And we invite you to carry the flame to shape the future of nursing, to set new standards of excellence, and to empower our profession now and for another 125 years. Because together, we are The Power of Nurses.” OSM