National Nurses Day 2006

TRENDS
• the aging population increases demands for nurses, and the need for long-term caregivers continues to grow.

• Advances in medical science have allowed those with debilitating and terminal conditions to live longer, increasing needs for nursing skills.

• Health care cost containment initiatives and the increasing importance of managed care in the U.S. health care delivery system have had a great impact on the work environment of nurses. Just like professionals in other areas where "downsizing" has occurred in recent years, today's nurse is part of a leaner staff doing more work.

• At the same time, nurses are moving into new positions – nurse practitioners and doctor's assistants, for example.

• Registered nurses top the list of the 10 occupations with the largest projected job growth in the years 2002 to 2012, according to a 2004 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report.


WHEN

 National Nurses Week is May 6-12. (The week-long celebration accommodates the variety of schedules nurses are required to work).

 Not just this year, but every year, regardless of the days of the week upon which those dates fall.

 May 6 is the official nurse recognition day, with student nurse day on May 8 and school nurse day on May 9. (This recognition day was previously observed during January and, unlike the others, is not a fixed date.)

 The week draws attention to and celebrates the contributions that nurses and nursing make to the community. The full week of recognition culminates on Florence Nightingale’s birthday, May 12.