Nurses week isn’t just about pizza, gift certificates, and flowers. Those things are nice, but if you’re wondering how to celebrate nurses week with more meaning, it’s time to put a little more thought into recognizing America’s most trusted profession. Whether your priority is to level up your self-care, shoes, or resume, we’re here to help.
Working as a nurse can be challenging. You may face difficult patients, shifts with never-ending tasks, and the heavy responsibility to do more with less. You use your compassion and clinical skills to care for others, and that’s no small feat — your dedication to patients deserves to be recognized. Whether you’re a CNA, LPN, RN, NP, nurse leader, or another nursing professional, you deserve a celebration that highlights your skill and commitment.
Nurses appreciation week was formed to do just that. Every year, this celebration falls between May 6 and 12, which is also Florence Nightingale’s birthday. In 1982, the American Nurses Association (ANA) named May 6 National Nurses Day, and lengthened the celebration to a full week in 1990. It’s impossible to sum up your accomplishments in a gift card, so here are seven fresh ways to celebrate yourself and the nurses in your life.
1. Improve Wellness
Self-care is more than bubble baths and drinking enough water. This nurses week, think about the ways you can make your work or home life easier. Maybe that’s building a budget so your finances feel less stressful, or booking a new workout class for yourself. Check out our resources to help you live more fully as a nurse.
Discover Practical Self-Care Tips for Nurses
Take this week to prioritize your mental, physical and emotional health. Practical self-care might include journaling, making time for hobbies you enjoy, or advocating for staffing that helps make your job easier.
Find Ways to Deal With Stress in Nursing
Nursing can be stressful. You’re juggling patients’ physical and emotional needs, helping your teammates as much as possible, and trying to fit in a bathroom break — and that’s just in the first two hours of your shift. Learn some practical ways to deal with stress, like meditation and exercise, to promote your long-term well-being.
Learn Tips to Manage Pre-Shift Anxiety
Do you find yourself dreading your next shift? You’re not alone. Lower your pre-shift anxiety by taking care of yourself at work or finding yourself a community outside of work. And if the conditions in your workplace aren’t conducive to your happiness, it’s okay to seek new opportunities.
2. Celebrate Quality
In every shift, you work towards giving patients the best care possible. What you do makes a difference for patients, their families, and your teammates. Celebrate nurses week with pride by renewing your commitment to professional nursing.
Take the IntelyCare Quality Pledge
Affirm your commitment to compassionate and empathetic nursing care by taking the quality pledge for nurses. This modern oath serves to remind you of the work you do to serve others, be a lifelong learner, and grow as a nurse and a person. Sign the pledge today!
Deliver High-Quality Care
Learn about the specific attributes of high-quality nursing care. Your autonomy, honesty, and veracity make you a trusted and essential clinician. Voicing your boundaries and communicating well with patients are essential qualities, too.
Meet Your Clinical Quality and Education Team
If you’re an IntelyPro, whom can you call if you have a question about a shift or need support for continuing education? IntelyCare’s clinical quality and education team is here for you. Learn about the passionate people who show unwavering support to their team of nursing professionals.
3. Treat Yourself and Others
Gifts and healthcare discounts are great nurse appreciation week ideas. Treating yourself to a more civil workplace, or learning new ways to respond to challenging workplace dynamics, can be even greater gifts.
Bust Misperceptions About Nurses
Are nurses really mean? Treat yourself to some myth-busting by learning about the interpersonal challenges that many nurses face, and how you can create a healthy environment for yourself and your teammates.
Explore Discounts for Nurses
Your favorite brands might offer special discounts for nursing professionals. If you’re looking to treat yourself or another nurse, learn how you can save on cell phone plans, cars, sunglasses, and more.
Learn How to Respond to Incivility in Nursing
Does your unit feel tense or inhospitable? It can be hard to know how to respond when a coworker doesn’t behave professionally. Equip yourself with practical strategies to handle uncomfortable situations at work, so you can go into your next shift with more confidence.
4. Upgrade Your Everyday Tools
A little retail therapy can help put some pep in your step for your next shift. This nurses week, upgrade the supplies you use daily to experience an easier, more comfortable workday. Check out our recommended accessories to find the right ones for you.
Explore the Best Shoes for Nurses
Wearing the right footwear makes your whole day more comfortable. Whether you prefer running shoes, sneakers, or clogs, upgrading your shoes can help you run to the next code — or coffee break — with ease.
Discover the Best Compression Socks for Nurses
Looking for ways to add more comfort to your workplace? Compression socks help prevent varicose veins and soreness after a long day on your feet. See some of the top brands, and gift yourself a softer next shift.
Find the Best Medical Scissors
If you work in the emergency department, rapid response, or as a first responder, sturdy medical scissors are a must. Our list of scissors and shears features everything from multitool accessories to basic medical scissors to help you upgrade your nursing kit.
5. Level Up Your Career
Is your current nursing role meeting your professional needs? If you’re looking to breathe life into your work, celebrate nurses week by learning about your options. Whether you dream of working in a non-traditional role, earning a certification, or scaling the leadership ladder, a nursing career change could be just what the doctor ordered.
Quit the Job You Hate
All the emotional intelligence and empathy in the world can’t solve a dysfunctional workplace or a specialty area you’re not passionate about. If you’re ready to take the leap into your next career phase, learn about practical strategies to leave your current role without burning bridges or losing potential opportunities.
Transition Away From the Bedside
Ready for a break from patient care? Nurses are valuable across industries. Whether you’re interested in tech, education, remote work, or something else, check out the non-clinical career options that a nursing background can qualify you for.
Find Nursing Roles Hiring Now
If you’re looking for a new nursing job, you’ve come to the right place. IntelyCare has thousands of roles for nursing professionals like you. See the well-known organizations that need clinicians right now.
6. Speak Your Mind and Make a Difference
You advocate for patients every day. What about advocating for yourself and your fellow nurses? If you have suggestions for your unit or the whole nursing profession, you have a voice. This nurses week, learn practical strategies for practicing equity in your nursing practice and in nursing professionalism.
Learn About Social Justice in Nursing
As a nurse, social justice is a core value in your professional ethics. Learn about what social justice looks like in nursing, and how you can promote it on your next nursing assignment.
Use Your Voice on Social Media
When used well, social media can be a tool for advocacy and connecting with others. Nurses can make their voices heard on social platforms to shine a light on ethical problems, health education, and more. Learn about guidelines for nurses on social media so you can be safe online.
Practice Assertive Communication Strategies
Do you feel equipped to advocate for yourself and others? Being an assertive communicator can be challenging. Learn about practical skills for making your voice heard, so you can express your needs and manage conflicts when they arise.
7. Take Some Time
Taking time away from work is a normal and essential part of a sustainable nursing career. And you’ve got options — you might get away by taking a vacation, attending a conference, or even working as a cruise ship nurse. Learn about how to get off the clock and have some fun as a nurse.
Take a Leave of Absence
Need more time away than a single vacation can offer? There are several ways to take a leave of absence from your nursing role. Learn about how to take FMLA, ADA leave, or use your company’s leave policy to take the time you need.
Attend a Conference
Going to a nursing conference can help you connect with fellow clinicians, network for career opportunities, and stay updated on changes in your speciality — all while taking a break from work! Learn more about the nursing conferences you could attend.
Bring Your Skills on a Cruise
Ready to set sail? Cruise ship nurses work on the high seas to keep vacationers and staff happy. Learn about what it’s like to work in this unique role, and how you can take the first steps to earning your sea legs.
Celebrate Nurses Week With New Opportunities
If you’re unhappy in your current nursing job, even a nurses week celebration isn’t enough. IntelyCare has roles across the nation for nursing professionals like you. To start learning about fresh opportunities, sign up for personalized nursing job notifications.