National Nursing Week

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National Nursing Week 2025

National Nursing Week 2025 will be celebrated from Monday, May 12, to Sunday, May 18, 2025. The week is centered around International Nurses Day, which takes place annually on May 12, commemorating the birth of Florence Nightingale. Each year, National Nursing Week dates are chosen to encapsulate May 12 to highlight the vital contributions of nurses globally.

This week serves as an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the hard work and dedication of nurses across Canada and around the world.

Dates and theme

National Nursing Week will take place May 12-18, 2025, and the theme will be announced in early 2025. Check back for more updates.

  • 2025: May 12-18
  • 2026: May 11-17
  • 2027: May 10– 16
  • 2028: May 8-14
  • 2029: May 7 – 13
  • 2030: May 6 – 12
  • 2031: May 12 - 18

We are always looking for nurse feedback about National Nursing Week feedback, activities, themes, send us an email if you have ideas for future nursing weeks!

Embrace nurses and shine a spotlight on them by following us on social media and using the hashtags #CNA2025 #NursingWeek2025 #NationalNursingWeek #IND2025 #Nurses2025  #NursingTheme2025

We look forward to celebrating National Nursing Week with you.

Indigenous Nurses Day will always take place on the Monday of Nursing Week, this year it will take place on Monday, May 12, 2025.

Student Nurses Day will always take place on the Wednesday of Nursing Week, this year it will take place on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

International Nurses Day is always celebrated on Florence Nightingale’s birthday on May 12.

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About National Nursing Week

The week draws attention to nurses, increasing the awareness of the public, policy-makers and governments of the many contributions of nursing to the well-being of Canadians.

In 1971, ICN designated May 12, the birthday of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale, as International Nurses Day. In 1985, CNA members passed a resolution to begin negotiations with the federal government to have the week containing May 12 proclaimed as National Nurses Week annually. Soon after, the federal minister of health proclaimed the second week of May as National Nurses Week. In 1993, the name was changed to National Nursing Week to emphasize the profession's accomplishments as a discipline.

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Commemorate nursing — inspirational messages from 2024

We are delighted to present these special messages that acknowledge and thank nurses for their expertise, professionalism and dedication to keeping people healthy.

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Contact Us

For general inquiries, please contact cna@cna-aiic.ca.