Celebrating Nursing Week – May 10-16
Nursing Week is the annual celebration of our profession that always coincides with the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, on May 12.
This year, it will be held May 10 to 16 and RNAO will be celebrating with the theme Protecting Ontarians and Leading Change: Nurses and RNAO during COVID-19. RNAO is proud to recognize all nurses for the quality of care they provide to patients, clients and long-term care residents. From the bedside to the classroom and the boardroom, nurses make Ontario, our country and the world a healthier place. See next our note of appreciation to nurses and visit the Nursing Week portal detailing activities taking place throughout the week. We invite RNAO members, colleagues from other professions and the public to join us as we salute the RNs, NPs, RPNs, and nursing students in Ontario, Canada and the world!
The World Health Organization has proclaimed 2021 as the International Year of Health and Care Workers to express gratitude for their unwavering dedication in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure all health workers are supported, protected, motivated and equipped to deliver safe health care at all times.
As we continue the battle against COVID-19, RNAO thanks all nurses – and especially Ontario’s registered nurses and nurse practitioners – who have spent 15 intense months on the front lines of care with great courage, expertise and compassion. You have led organizations. You have reorganized curriculums. You have worked on the front lines, putting patients, clients and residents first. You have saved lives and witnessed the loss of too many lives. You have experienced anguish and joy. You have felt despair and hope. You have experienced exhaustion and you have been reenergized. Above all, you have made a grand difference.
Your work in all sectors and roles shines and makes us proud. Nurses are the backbone of our health system and we couldn’t be prouder of you for your contributions. Today, more than ever, Ontario salutes you.
As we mark Nursing Week (May 10-16), RNAO would like to invite you to join us for a variety of virtual events to laugh, learn and honour you and the work of your colleagues. Despite these uncertain and stressful times, we should take pride in knowing that our profession and each nurse in Ontario, in Canada, and indeed the world over are changing lives for the better.
As we continue to face trying times, RNAO will continue to speak out with you and for you. We stand with you every minute of the day and every minute of the night – shift to shift. You are today’s Florence Nightingales bringing knowledge and compassion, light and hope, wherever you go.
We salute you with enormous gratitude, for who you are: a proud nurse. A promising nursing student.
For a full list of events that RNAO is hosting during Nursing Week, please scroll down or check out our Nursing Week portal.