We are very excited to celebrate Nurses Week with the help of Miss Colorado, Kelley Johnson, RN! We first teamed up with Kelley earlier this spring and are continuing our partnership to recognize the important role nurses play in healthcare during this week-long event.

The American Nurses Association (ANA) designated the days of May 6–12 as permanent dates to observe National Nurses Week in 1994 and in all subsequent years. Within this week are other designated events, such as National RN Recognition Day on May 6^th, National Student Nurses Day on May 8^th, National School Nurse Day on the Wednesday of the celebrated week (this year, it falls on May 11^th), and National Day of Advocacy for Nurses on May 12^th. UA recognizes the importance of this week in honoring the nation’s indispensable registered nurses for their tireless commitment 365 days a year.

We promote this week each year to bring special attention and appreciation for the individuals that make up the nursing community. UA hosts a variety of special promotions, giveaways, and exclusive nurses pride items to help bring awareness and give back to these individuals.

This year, UA partnered with Johnson to put together a special video in which Johnson talks about her inspiration for being a nurse and what it means to her.

“You absolutely have to follow the rule of doing what you love. So find what makes you happy and figure out a way to make a career out of it.” – Kelley Johnson, Miss Colorado, RN

The 2016 theme of National Nurses Week, as designated by the ANA, is “Creating a Culture of Safety.” ANA is asking all nurses to consider how they can individually and collectively work toward creating a culture of safety in their workplaces, which means ensuring not only the safety of their patients, but also their own safety. They are even hosting a contest on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #SafeNursesRock to promote the importance of safety in all healthcare environments.

Be sure to visit our own social media channels to enter special giveaways and receive special promotions happening throughout this week, beginning May 6!