National Nurses Week 2027 runs from Thursday, May 6, to Wednesday, May 12. It opens with National Nurses Day on May 6 and ends on May 12, Florence Nightingale’s birthday and International Nurses Day.
The dates are the same every year, but the weekdays change.
Key takeaways
- National Nurses Week is always May 6–12; in 2027, it runs from Thursday to Wednesday.
- National Nurses Day is Thursday, May 6, and School Nurse Day is Wednesday, May 12, 2027.
- The American Nurses Association (ANA) also marks all of May as National Nurses Month.
- Canada’s National Nursing Week 2027 runs from Monday, May 10, to Sunday, May 16.
National Nurses Week 2027 key facts
| Week | Thursday, May 6 – Wednesday, May 12, 2027 |
|---|---|
| Rule | May 6–12 every year |
| National Nurses Day | Thursday, May 6, 2027 |
| International Nurses Day | Wednesday, May 12, 2027 |
| Led by | American Nurses Association (ANA) |
| Also | National Nurses Month: all of May 2027 |
| Public holiday? | No; hospitals and clinics run as normal |
Table of Contents
Why is National Nurses Week May 6–12
National Nurses Week runs on fixed dates, May 6–12. It starts on National Nurses Day and ends on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.
Because the dates are fixed, the week starts on a different weekday each year. That matters for hospitals planning events around shifts.
| Year | Nurses Week (May 6–12) | School Nurse Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Tuesday – Monday | Wednesday, May 7 |
| 2026 | Wednesday – Tuesday | Wednesday, May 6 |
| 2027 | Thursday – Wednesday | Wednesday, May 12 |
| 2028 | Saturday – Friday | Wednesday, May 10 |
| 2029 | Sunday – Saturday | Wednesday, May 9 |
| 2030 | Monday – Sunday | Wednesday, May 8 |
| 2031 | Tuesday – Monday | Wednesday, May 7 |
| 2032 | Thursday – Wednesday | Wednesday, May 12 |
| 2033 | Friday – Thursday | Wednesday, May 11 |
| 2034 | Saturday – Friday | Wednesday, May 10 |
| 2035 | Sunday – Saturday | Wednesday, May 9 |
| 2036 | Tuesday – Monday | Wednesday, May 7 |
In 2027 and 2032, School Nurse Day lands on May 12, the same day as International Nurses Day, by our count.
The named days of Nurses Week 2027
Nurses Week 2027 has 4 named days. Each honors a different group or marks a milestone in nursing history.
| Day | 2027 date | Who it honors |
|---|---|---|
| National Nurses Day | Thursday, May 6 | All nurses; the first day of the week |
| National Student Nurses Day | Saturday, May 8 | Nursing students |
| School Nurse Day | Wednesday, May 12 | School nurses; always the Wednesday of Nurses Week |
| International Nurses Day | Wednesday, May 12 | Nurses worldwide, on Florence Nightingale’s birthday |
The ANA named May 8 National Student Nurses Day in 1997, at the request of the National Student Nurses Association (Credenza Health). The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) sets School Nurse Day on the Wednesday within Nurses Week.
What is the Nurses Week 2027 theme?
No 2027 theme has been announced as of November 4, 2026. The ANA and the International Council of Nurses (ICN) usually publish their themes early in the year, and we will add them here.
| Organization | 2026 theme |
|---|---|
| ANA (National Nurses Week and Month) | “The Power of Nurses” |
| ICN (International Nurses Day) | “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives” |
The ANA’s 2026 theme appears in a Nassau University Medical Center Nurses Week flyer, and the ICN theme comes from the ICN’s announcement.
Nurses Week, Nurses Month, and International Nurses Day
These are 3 overlapping observances. National Nurses Week is May 6–12, National Nurses Month is all of May, and International Nurses Day is May 12.
- National Nurses Month: the ANA extended its celebration to the whole of May in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic (ANA). The week remains the main focus.
- International Nurses Day: the ICN marks it every May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth in 1820.
National Nursing Week in Canada 2027
Canada’s National Nursing Week 2027 runs from Monday, May 10, to Sunday, May 16, according to the Canadian Nurses Association. It is the week that contains International Nurses Day on May 12.
That means the US and Canadian weeks differ in 2027. They overlap only on May 10–12. The Canadian week was first proclaimed after a 1985 resolution by the Canadian Nurses Association, and it took its current name in 1993.
History of National Nurses Week
National Nurses Week took its current dates in 1990, after decades of shorter or moved observances.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1954 | A first nurses’ week ran October 11–16, marking 100 years since Florence Nightingale’s mission to the Crimea |
| 1974 | President Richard Nixon proclaimed a National Nurse Week, held in February at first |
| 1982 | A joint resolution of Congress made May 6 National Recognition Day for Nurses, proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan |
| 1990 | The ANA expanded the day to a week, May 6–12 |
| 1993 | The ANA made May 6–12 a permanent annual week |
| 1997 | May 8 became National Student Nurses Day |
| 2020 | The ANA extended the celebration to National Nurses Month |
The years from 1954 to 1997 come from Credenza Health’s history of the week.
Nurses in the United States by the numbers
Registered nurses held 3,465,400 jobs in the United States in 2025, according to the BLS. Their median pay was $97,550 a year in May 2025.
The BLS expects registered nurse jobs to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all jobs. It projects about 180,800 openings each year over that decade.
The ANA’s 2026 Nurses Week materials cite more than 5 million US nurses, a wider count than the BLS figure for registered nurses alone.
How to celebrate Nurses Week 2027
Plan around shifts. Nurses work nights and weekends, and in 2027 the week includes Saturday, May 8, and Sunday, May 9.
- Cover every shift: run events or leave food out for day, evening, and night staff.
- Specific thanks: patients and families can write notes naming a nurse and what they did.
- Recognition awards: many hospitals hand out awards on National Nurses Day, Thursday, May 6.
- Education: pay for a certification, course, or conference place.
- Rest: protected breaks, a quiet room, or meals during long shifts.
What else falls in Nurses Week 2027
Nurses Week 2027 overlaps with other May observances, which matters for hospitals and schools planning events.
| Observance | 2027 date |
|---|---|
| Teacher Appreciation Week | Monday, May 3 – Friday, May 7 |
| National Nurses Week | Thursday, May 6 – Wednesday, May 12 |
| Mother’s Day | Sunday, May 9 |
| Canada’s National Nursing Week | Monday, May 10 – Sunday, May 16 |
Mother’s Day falls in the middle of Nurses Week 2027, on Sunday, May 9, so many nurses will be working one or both. Every appreciation date is in the 2027 appreciation days calendar, and every May observance is in the list of national days in May.
Frequently asked questions
When is Nurses Week 2027?
National Nurses Week 2027 runs from Thursday, May 6, to Wednesday, May 12. It is May 6–12 every year.
When is National Nurses Day 2027?
National Nurses Day 2027 is Thursday, May 6, the first day of National Nurses Week.
When is International Nurses Day 2027?
International Nurses Day 2027 is Wednesday, May 12. It falls on Florence Nightingale’s birthday every year.
When is School Nurse Day 2027?
School Nurse Day 2027 is Wednesday, May 12, the Wednesday of National Nurses Week.
Is May National Nurses Month?
Yes. Since 2020, the ANA has marked all of May as National Nurses Month, with Nurses Week on May 6–12 as its focus.
Is Nurses Week the same in Canada?
No. Canada’s National Nursing Week 2027 runs from Monday, May 10, to Sunday, May 16, the week that contains May 12.
Why does Nurses Week end on May 12?
May 12 is Florence Nightingale’s birthday. She was born on May 12, 1820, and is known as the founder of modern nursing.
Does Nurses Week include LPNs and nurse practitioners?
Yes. National Nurses Week honors all nurses, including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse practitioners. Many employers also include nursing assistants in their events.
Is Nurses Week a holiday?
No. It is an observance, not a public holiday, so hospitals, clinics, and schools stay open.
