National Nursing Week

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National Nursing Week 2024

May 6-12, 2024. The theme for 2024 will be announced at a later date.

Here’s what happened in 2023!

Nurses and many others across the country celebrated National Nursing Week, which was May 8-14. CNA president Sylvain Brousseau and CNA CEO Tim Guest were actively involved all week long. This year marked one of the best years for engagement in the news and on social media, and CNA was highlighted in many speaking opportunities and news segments and on social media. Watch Brousseau speak with The News Forum media platform about nursing retention.

Theme: Our Nurses. Our Future.

2023 dates and theme

May 8-14, 2023: The National Nursing Week annual celebrations take place from the Monday to the Sunday of the same week as Florence Nightingale’s birthday, May 12.

The theme this year is Our Nurses. Our Future. This theme showcases the many roles that nurses play in a patient’s health-care journey. The pandemic brought to light the courage and commitment that nurses work under every day and showed the important role that nurses play in the community.

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Resources

Standard poster sizes: 8.5” x 11” (letter); 8.5” x 14” (legal); 11” x 17” (tabloid)

Social media images: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram

You can also download a large-format poster (18” x 24”) and personalize it by adding your organization’s name and logo. To print a high-quality version of the poster, use a printing facility or upload a high-resolution PDF to an online print vendor. Display it proudly around your facility to show your organization’s support for nurses.

NNW Poster

Download now

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National Nursing Week event

In honour of National Nursing Week (May 8-14, 2023), a group of nursing associations from across Canada has joined forces to launch the #HeyNurse social media campaign. This campaign is aimed at the public and gives them a chance to tell a nurse or a group of nurses how much they are appreciated for their work.

Is there a nurse you want to give a shout out to? How has a nurse made an impact in your life? Tell us about your experience and how a nurse was there for you.

How to participate

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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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Ideas for commemorating

  • On social media:
    • In all your posts, use #CNA2023 #OurNursesOurFuture #IKnowANurse #NationalNursingWeek #IND2023 #Nurses2023 #VoiceToLead #HeyNurse
    • Share pictures and stories that create awareness about National Nursing Week.
    • Showcase and describe the diversity of your role, your team and your working environments.
    • Use #IKnowANurse to share stories of exceptional nurses, because everyone knows a nurse who has left a lasting impression!
    • Follow CNA on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube

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Commemorate nursing — inspirational message

We are delighted to present this special message that acknowledges and thanks nurses for their expertise, professionalism and dedication to keeping people healthy.

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Contact Us

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