Every May, we roll out the metaphorical red carpet for some of the most selfless, skillful, and strong-hearted professionals on the planet—nurses! Nurses Week isn’t just a nod to the history and heart behind the profession (shoutout to Florence Nightingale!); it’s a vibrant celebration of the everyday miracles nurses perform with stethoscopes around their necks and kindness in their souls.
Why I Became a Nurse: A Personal Story
Like so many in this profession, my journey into nursing started with a simple but powerful desire: to help people. I’ve always been drawn to the human experience of health and healing—of helping someone recover or supporting them when recovery isn’t possible.
Early in my career, I found my calling in homecare. I was especially drawn to caring for older adults, many of whom had no one else. Being welcomed into someone’s home during some of their most vulnerable times is a profound honor. It’s not always about getting better—sometimes, it’s about providing dignity, compassion, and peace at the end of life, and helping families through that journey.
Over time, I realized that being a nurse meant showing up for people in sickness and in health—for patients, families, caregivers, and fellow healthcare professionals. That realization inspired me to become a nurse educator. I wanted to foster the profession I love and invest in the next generation of nurses so they can continue to be inspired to provide compassionate care, strength, and humanity to the frontlines of healthcare.
The Magic Behind the Mask
Nurses are more than medication managers or wound whisperers—they’re educators, advocates, crisis navigators, and sometimes the only steady hand in a storm. Whether it’s a pediatric nurse calming a frightened child with a teddy bear in one hand and a syringe in the other, or a hospice nurse holding someone’s hand so they don’t feel alone in their final moments, the emotional intelligence and skillset nurses bring to the table is unmatched.
Nurses in Unconventional Roles: The Unsung Heroes
Not all nurses work at the bedside—and their impact is no less profound. Here are just a few examples of nurse heroes in less traditional roles who change lives in powerful ways:
Nurse Educators: Shaping the Future. Nurse Carla, a former ICU nurse turned clinical instructor. She trains the next generation of nurses with heart, humor, and hard-earned wisdom. Her motto? “Teach them with compassion, and they’ll lead with courage.” She’s not just teaching skills—she’s shaping mindsets and mentoring future leaders.
Home Health Nurses: Healing Where the Heart Is. Nurse Devin drives miles every day to visit patients in rural communities, delivering everything from wound care to comfort care. He builds trust with patients in their own environments—where healing often happens best. His gentle approach has helped countless older adults age in place safely and with dignity.
Nursing Home Champions: Advocates in Action. In a skilled nursing facility, Nurse Alicia is a lifeline. She knows every resident’s favorite meal, every family member’s birthday, and every medication interaction by heart. When the world shut down during COVID-19, she stayed—day in, day out—ensuring her residents still felt loved and seen.
Case Managers: Navigators of Complexity. Nurse Ray, a hospital case manager, doesn’t wear scrubs—but he wears out his keyboard advocating for patients. From arranging rehab stays to coordinating insurance coverage and discharge plans, his work behind the scenes keeps patients safe, informed, and supported long after they leave the hospital.
Nurse Leaders: Guiding with Grace. Nurse Tasha leads a nursing team across multiple departments. She balances budgets, manages crises, inspires staff, and still makes time to visit the floor and mentor new grads. She sees leadership not as a title, but as a service. “Support your staff, and they’ll change the world,” she says.
Celebrating in Style
Hospitals and organizations around the globe go all out for Nurse Week—there are breakfasts, spa gift baskets, handwritten thank-you notes from patients, and even dance-offs in some breakrooms! But, beyond the balloons and cupcakes, the most meaningful gesture is simply this: recognition.
To all nurses—whether you wear scrubs or blazers, teach in classrooms or chart in homes—thank you. Thank you for standing tall during staff shortages, stretching yourselves thinner than should ever be expected, and still showing up with grace. Thank you for working under reduced budgets, making miracles with limited resources, and putting patient care first even when systems fall short.
Thank you for the many hours you spend at the bedside—holding hands, calming fears, cleaning wounds, educating families, and carrying emotional weight that few truly understand. Your work is sacred. Your heart is gold. You are the thread that holds the fabric of healthcare together.
Happy Nurses Week. You are seen, you are valued, and you are celebrated.
If you’re a nurse reading this: thank you. Thank you for showing up—on holidays, overnights, snowstorms, and during pandemics. Thank you for doing the hard things with grace and for holding our hands—literally and figuratively—when we need it most.
If you’re not a nurse, but you love one, this is your week to really show it! Write a card, cook a meal, or just say: “I see you, and I’m grateful.”
🎉 Celebrate Nurses Week with Us!
We’re honoring the incredible work of nurses by giving away a free 1-year CEU subscription to one lucky nurse! It’s our way of saying thank you for all that you do.
👉 Click here to enter the giveaway »
🩺 Submit a course topic suggestion, get a coupon, and you’re automatically entered to win!
Giveaway ends May 20, 2025. Open to U.S.-licensed nurses only. View full rules »
By Jennifer Walker RN, MSN, NPD-BC, NE-BC, GN-BC
