Delivering Quality & Innovation in Patient Care

In 1954, 100 years after Florence Nightingale’s mission to Crimea, the first National Nurse Week was observed in October. In 1974, the International council of Nurses (ICN) proclaimed Florence Nightingale’s May 12th birthday as “International Nurse Day”. Then in 1982 the American Nurses Association (ANA) Board of Directors formally acknowledged May 6, 1982 as National Nurses Day and was acknowledged by a joint resolution of the US Congress.President Ronald Reagan then signed a proclamation proclaiming “National Recognition Day for Nurses” to be May 6, 1982. It was in 1990 when the ANA expanded the recognition to a week starting on May 6th and ending on Florence Nightingale’s birthday, May 12th. Read ANA’s account of the history of the week.

This week put the Health IT Buzz blog on your reading list as they will be publishing daily posts from nurses around the country that will focus on their rolls in implementing and using health information technology. Health IT is now the fastest growing area for advancement for the nursing profession. From management to informatics nurses are filling the openings coming available from health IT adoption.

The theme of National Nurses Week 2013 is “Nurses: Delivering Quality & Innovation in Patient Care”. Read the letter from A. Rudy Klopfer, Director, VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System honoring the “dedicated men and women we in the Department of Veterans Affairs consider to be the compassionate backbone of the veterans’ health care system — nurses.” Susan Riley, BSN, RN-BC writes her thoughts in the Reporter, Florence would be proud, honoring her fellow nurses. And the stories and tributes go on and on. You will find celebrations from coast to coast this week, join them in thanking a nurse you see.

And yes, that is my mother, front left. Happy Nurse’s Week.