Every year, National Nurses Week (May 6–12, 2026)* offers the perfect moment to celebrate the dedication, compassion, and expertise of nurses. Yet, as Quint Studer, renowned healthcare leader and author of The Calling: Why Healthcare Is So Special, points out, the most meaningful way to honor nurses is to help them reconnect to the deeper sense of purpose—their calling—that first drew them to the profession. [1][2]
The Shifting Landscape of Nursing
Nurses embark on their careers with a profound desire to care, to be useful, and to make a difference in people’s lives.
But today’s healthcare environment is more demanding than ever: staffing shortages, rising patient complexity, administrative tasks, and mounting burnout have made it harder for nurses to feel that original sense of calling in their day-to-day work. As work becomes more task-oriented and less relational, and as organizations rely more on temporary staff, nurses can lose touch with the ‘why’ that fuels their best work.
“Work can feel transactional when the focus is on metrics and key performance indicators, rather than on the human side of healthcare,” Studer said.
“At a time when care matters more than ever, the meaning that fuels it can get crowded out,” Studer added.
Why Reconnection Matters
The urgency to help nurses reconnect to their calling goes beyond morale—it’s essential for retention, engagement, and patient outcomes. Traditional perks and compensation are no longer enough; nurses crave meaning, purpose, and strong relationships with their leaders and teams. When that sense of purpose declines, so too does engagement and the patient experience.
Nurses Week, with its 2026 theme ‘The Power of Nurses,’ is a powerful opportunity for leaders to reset and recommit to supporting their nursing teams—not just through appreciation, but through intentional, daily actions that foster connection and purpose.
Practical Steps to Reconnect Nurses to Their Calling
Studer offers several actionable steps for leaders to take, both during Nurses Week and throughout the year:
- Ask Questions That Matter: Begin meetings and huddles with questions that invite nurses to reflect on meaning. Ask, ‘Why did you choose this profession?’ or ‘What made a difference today?’ These moments of reflection can reset the tone for the day and reignite a sense of pride and purpose.
- Make Daily Emotional Deposits: Recognition is most powerful when it’s specific and timely. Thank nurses for their work, and highlight the impact they’ve had on patients, families, or colleagues. These ‘deposits’ in the emotional bank account help replenish the reserves that get depleted over time.
- Share Stories of Purpose: Real-life stories of care and compassion, such as those in The Calling, remind teams why their work matters. Sharing stories during rounds or meetings helps reinforce the collective purpose and helps nurses see the impact of their efforts.
- Remove Barriers: Even removing a small frustration—a ‘pebble in the shoe’—can make a meaningful difference. Leaders can use Nurses Week to identify and address one barrier that makes the workday easier, showing nurses that their voices are heard and valued.
- Close the Feedback Loop: When nurses raise concerns or ideas, it’s crucial for leaders to follow up and communicate the actions taken. This builds trust, reinforces that their input matters, and strengthens their connection to their work.
A Tradition of Recognition
Nurses Week began its annual celebration in the U.S. on May 6-12 in honor of Florence Nightingale (1820–1910), the founder of modern nursing. Nightingale, known as ‘the Lady with the Lamp,’ who was characterized as ‘… an Englishwoman, one of the noblest… the most self-sacrificing, the tenderest – a woman fit to join hands with Joan of Arc...,’ revolutionized healthcare by establishing modern nursing standards, hygiene practices, and data-driven sanitation reforms. She drastically reduced the death rates during the Crimean War and founded the first secular nursing school.[3][4]
Since 1982, National Nurses Week has grown to include National Student Nurses Day (May 8), National School Nurse Day (the Wednesday within Nurses Week), and International Nurses Day (May 12). Hospitals and organizations honor nurses with events, awards, and messages of appreciation, but as Studer emphasizes, “…the greatest tribute is creating an environment where nurses can reconnect with their calling every day.”
Beyond a Single Week
“Appreciation is important, but the best way to honor nurses is to make their work lives better,” noted Studer. By moving beyond one week of gratitude and embedding these practices year-round, leaders help ensure that nurses remain inspired, engaged, and able to provide the compassionate care that is the essence of their profession.
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Note: * In addition to National Nurses Week in May, on September 8, 2026, National Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses Day recognizes the hardworking, dedicated professionals who provide care to cancer patients every day, honoring nurses who care for pediatric hematology and oncology patients. This observance takes place during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. These dedicated professionals provide quality nursing care for children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer and blood disorders, and provide the highest standard of physical and emotional support to these most precious patients and their families.
About the Book: The Calling: Why Healthcare Is So Special, Second Edition (The Gratitude Group Publishing; ISBN: 978-1-7370789-1-3; $28.00) is available on Amazon.
Reference
[1] Rait S. Editorial–a world in progress.. Neonatal Netw. 2010 Nov-Dec;29(6):345. doi: 10.1891/0730-0832.29.6.345. PMID: 21071358.
[2] Dawson-Rose C, Steilen M, Treston C. ANAC Celebrates National Nurses Week. J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2021 May-Jun 01;32(3):408. doi: 10.1097/JNC.0000000000000263. PMID: 33929981.
[3] Nightingale F. Florence Nightingale and the War. Hospital (Lond 1886). 1916 Feb 26;59(1550):487-488. PMID: 29824292; PMCID: PMC5229743.
[4] Milutinović D, Sumonja S, Maksimović J. [Personality and work of Florence Nightingale–creator of modern nursing and public health pioneer]. Med Pregl. 2012 May-Jun;65(5-6):263-7. Serbian. PMID: 22730715.
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