National Nurses Week

Next week is National Nurses Week, culminating May 12th, which is celebrated nurse and social reformer Florence Nightingale’s birthday. This year’s theme is Nurses: Inspire, Innovate, Influence.

Nursing is one profession where experience and good judgment are highly valued. Findings vary, but most studies place the average age of nurses in the U.S. between 45-50 years old. “Even if it isn’t directly related to nursing, having the skill set of a seasoned worker — intrapersonal skills, communication skills, confidence, and stress management, to name a few — will only make you a stronger, more well-rounded healthcare professional,” notes Ameritech. Another benefit: ageism is rarer in nursing than in many other professions, and the opportunities to teach and learn from younger colleagues abound. “All registered nurses have an equal standing in healthcare. Nursing can be a community as much as a career, and nurses stick together, regardless of differing ages.”

Nursing also offers a flexibility that not many other careers do. Later career nurses can choose to leave the clinical realm and branch out in any number of ways. Those who want to travel can become flight or even cruise ship nurses. Those who want to work with children can become school or camp nurses. Those with an interest in helping the elderly can become home help or hospice nurses.

The American Nurses Foundation is hosting a webinar and offers a digital resource kit that includes Thank You cards, social media templates, and suggestions for observing the week and honoring the nurses in our lives.

Learn more: National Nurses Week 2018