When an office worker calls in sick, deadlines move around. When a nurse can’t come in, lives are on the line. In a profession where burnout is rampant, recognizing nurses isn’t just about saying thanks – it's about the survival of our healthcare system.
Around the world, the nursing profession is in crisis. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates a shortage of 4.5 million nurses by 2030. There just aren’t enough nurses to meet patient demand. The result? Those who stay in nursing are stretched impossibly thin, while more of their peers quit.
That’s why National Nurses Week matters. Celebrated annually from May 6 to 12, the holiday offers a powerful opportunity for recognition. With the right strategy – and a tool like Applauz – it can help boost engagement and retention. Here’s how to honor nurses in ways that create lasting change.
When is National Nurses Week and What's its Historical Significance?
National Nurses Week runs from May 6 to 12. It ends on Florence Nightingale’s birthday – the founder of modern nursing. How was the week developed? Well, it all started in 1953.
Dorothy Sutherland, an employee at the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, sent President Eisenhower a proposal to observe Nurses Day. It didn’t get approved. But it launched informal efforts to celebrate nurses. And it showed a growing shift: Nursing was more than a wartime support role. It was time to acknowledge the critical role nurses play.
In 1974, the International Council of Nurses named May 12 as International Nurses Day. In 1982, President Reagan officially designated May 6 as National Recognition Day for Nurses. Finally, In 1990, the American Nurses Association (ANA) expanded the celebration to a full week. It includes annual events like National Student Nurses day and National School Nurse Day.
This push for recognition happened in a climate similar to today’s conditions. Nurse shortages, poor work conditions, a lack of appreciation…
National Nurses Week may seem like a symbolic gesture. But it has evolved into a key milestone. The message? Recognize the people who hold healthcare together.
National Nurses Week 2025: A Profession in Crisis
According to the 2020 WHO State of the World’s Nursing report, the global nursing workforce is under serious pressure. “Equitable distribution and retention of nurses is a near-universal challenge,” the WHO wrote.
In the United States alone, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 194,500 nursing job openings every year through 2030. But hospitals are already struggling to keep the nurses they have. The average nursing turnover rate is 17.2%, and many nurses are choosing to leave the profession entirely.
Part of the problem? The U.S. nursing workforce is aging. According to the 2022 National Nursing Workforce Survey, the median age of registered nurses is 46 – and more than one in four say they plan to retire or leave in the next five years. Globally, countries with more nurses over 55 than under 35 are at serious risk of staff shortages (WHO, p. 4).
At the same time, younger nurses are also burning out. During the pandemic, 69% of nurses under 25 reported struggling with their mental health. When experienced nurses leave and younger ones are overwhelmed, it puts the entire system at risk.
Patients and their families pay the price. Care can be delayed, and safety may even be at risk. There’s also a high financial cost. On average, replacing a bedside nurse costs $40,038 (NSI Nursing Solutions).
To avoid a major global shortfall by 2030, the WHO says countries need to increase the number of nursing graduates by 8% per year and do a better job of keeping them in the profession. In the U.S., programs like the National Student Nurses Association play a key role in the professional development of nursing students. But education alone isn't the enough if workplace culture doesn't change.
So, now we ask the important question: Why are nurses leaving?
It’s not just about long hours. Unfair pay and unsafe work environments are major issues too. Shockingly, only 37% of countries have laws or protections in place to prevent violence against healthcare workers.
Why You Should Observe National Nurses Week
Nurses don’t just need better conditions – they want to feel seen. Recognition is a basic human need. Just think about how good it feels when someone notices your hard work. This feeling has a powerful impact. It can boost resilience and prevent burnout. In a stressful environment like the healthcare industry, it can make all the difference.
One study found that meaningful recognition reduces the risk of burnout for critical care nurses. It also increases compassion satisfaction.
What is compassion satisfaction? It’s the sense of purpose that nurses feel when helping others. It’s pretty much the opposite of compassion fatigue. WebMD defines compassion fatigue as “the emotional, physical, and psychological distress that results from prolonged exposure to suffering and trauma in others.” Medical professionals are at risk for it.
Bottom line? Recognizing nurses is good for everyone. According to Gallup, employees who receive regular recognition are 4x more likely to be engaged, and 5x more likely to feel connected to their team. Imagine what that kind of engagement does in a hospital. Fewer mistakes. Better patient care. Gallup research also shows that recognition-rich organizations have better results:
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58% fewer patient safety incidents (including mortality and falls)
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63% fewer safety incidents (like workplace accidents)
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21% lower turnover in high-turnover environments
In healthcare, those numbers don’t just represent better outcomes. They represent lives saved and money saved, too. Again, replacing a nurse costs an average of $40,038. Lower turnover means fewer gaps to fill.
National Nurses Day/Week: Recognition Best Practices
Ready to tap into the power of gratitude at work?
Let’s be honest: A pizza party isn’t going to cut it. Nurses face real challenges. Recognition that motivates employees has to be intentional, specific and consistent to help boost their morale. Here are some best practices to recognize nursing staff in particular.
Make It Ongoing, Not One-Off
National Nurses Week is a great start. But recognition is most effective when it happens regularly – and in real-time. So, make it your mission to recognize nurses daily. Difficult shift? A genuine thank you or a shoutout during rounds can go a long way. Continuous acknowledgement helps nurses feel seen day-to-day – not just once a year.
Be Specific, Not Generic
Generic praise doesn’t make a lasting impression. Sure, “great job” feels nice. But “Thank you for catching that dosage error today, it made a real difference for the patient” hits differently. That’s because impactful recognition highlights what someone did and why it mattered.
Use Both Peer and Top-Down Recognition
Employee recognition statistics show that the most memorable recognition comes from leaders. However, peer-to-peer recognition is just as important. It drives engagement, performance and employee retention. Plus, nurses often notice things managers don’t. So, create space for colleagues to recognize each other.
Align Recognition with Organizational Values
Help nurses tap into the deeper ‘why’ behind their job. When you tie recognition to your mission or care standards, you reinforce what matters the most. For example, if patient-centered care is a core value, acknowledge actions that reflect that.
Make it Inclusive
Not all nurses work 9 to 5. How are you going to recognize people in non-clinical roles, part-time staffers and night shift workers? The healthcare workforce is diverse. Think beyond bulletin boards and in-person events. Your recognition strategy needs to be inclusive to motivate employees.
Build a Recognition-Rich Culture with Technology
You might have the best intentions. However, in an environment like healthcare, good intentions aren’t enough. You need systems. That’s where technology comes in. Employee recognition with Applauz can help you turn appreciation into an organization-wide system.
National Nurses Week Recognition Ideas
National Nurses Week isn’t a fun holiday. With the right strategy, it’s a chance to support nurses and create long-term change. Here are a few impactful employee recognition ideas to get you started.
Recognition Walls
Create a virtual or in-person wall for gratitude notes. Peers, patients and families can share messages for nurses on it. It’s simple and gives nurses a morale boost on tough days.
Storytelling Initiatives
Behind every nurse is a story. Use company newsletters, internal communication channels and social media to spotlight these stories.
Leadership Rounds
Encourage senior leaders to visit units, talk to nurses and thank them in person. This sends the powerful message: “We see you. And we are thankful for each nurse's commitment on an individual level."
Community Involvement
From local businesses to city officials, tap into your community. Ask organizations to share gifts or messages of support. And invite them to participate in National Nurses Week events.
Patient Feedback
Nurses change lives. Let them know just how much by asking patients and families for feedback. Collect handwritten notes or even video messages. Share them with nursing staff and watch them beam.
Professional Development
Want to improve long-term retention? Give nurses opportunities to grow. Offer them access to courses, certifications or conferences. Professional development is a meaningful perk. It also shows that you want to invest in people long-term.
Measure the Impact of Recognition Efforts
Figure out what works and ditch the rest. Conduct a survey to see which National Nurses Week ideas resonate the most. The goal? To recognize nurses in ways they actually value.
Technology Can Transform How We Recognize Nurses
Healthcare is a fast-paced 24/7 environment. Nurses work long hours, cover different shifts and move around. Old-school recognition isn’t effective or realistic in such a setting. For example, it’s easy to forget to sign a card – and you need the right people in the room to sign it.
Enter technology. The best employee recognition software, like Applauz, make it simple to give and receive recognition at any time of the day and in any location. Nurses can send peer shoutouts from their phone. Managers can celebrate employees in the company newsfeed.
A digital solution offers the ability to collect data. You can spot trends and improve your recognition strategy before burnout sets in.
Applauz also connects with other tools. For example, it can sync with your scheduling software. You can set a reminder to recognize a nurse right after a shift – no extra login needed.
Plus, it’s scalable. It works well in a big hospital because it turns appreciation into a system without losing that human touch. Worried about forgetting work anniversaries? Set up automatic reminders. Want to make recognition fun? Staff can earn points and rewards.
Beyond Nurses Week: Creating a Year-Round Culture of Appreciation
National Nurses Week is a good starting point. But the real work begins on May 12. Here are extra tips to create a culture of gratitude.
Bake Recognition Into Your Routine
Weave recognition into your routine. Identify regular team touchpoints and start there. For example, give shoutouts during shift huddles. Or offer real-time praise after nurses switch taking care of a patient.
Use Tech to Build Momentum
Platforms like Applauz can help recognition build momentum. Train managers on giving effective praise. Set up fun recognition challenges to encourage participation across all shifts and levels.
Identify Recognition Champions
Some staff members will buy into the concept faster than others. Ask them to help keep the energy going. They can lead by example and encourage peers to participate.
Tie Recognition to Organizational Goals
Recognition should support your bigger goals. Whether you want to improve patient satisfaction or reduce turnover, be sure to tie it to desired outcomes.
Measure Long-Term Impact
Measure results over time. Are people using your recognition platform? Is your turnover rate improving? Use employee surveys, platform analytics and informal feedback to understand what’s working and what to improve.
Recognition Helps Combat the Nursing Crisis
From burnout to staff shortages, nursing is in crisis. Every day, nurses still show up – often exhausted and underappreciated. Recognition won’t solve everything, but it’s a tool that can make a difference, one moment of appreciation at a time.
Over time, those moments build up. They prevent a new nurse from quitting. They improve team morale after a challenging night shift. They reduce turnover – and the pressure on health care systems.
So, this National Nurses Week, have a week-long celebration, but aim to build something long-lasting. Discover how to implement a year-round recognition program with Applauz.
