National Nurses Day2026 · Date · History
ANA history and federal primary records establish May 6 professional recognition and the date-specific 1982 National Recognition Day for Nurses while separating the later Nurses Week framework.
About National Nurses Day
National Nurses Day is observed in the United States on May 6, which also opens National Nurses Week.
The American Nurses Association (ANA) records that its Board formally acknowledged May 6, 1982 as National Nurses Day.
Why National Nurses Day matters
The day recognizes nurses and their professional contributions.
Historical federal action in 1982 designated May 6 of that year as “National Recognition Day for Nurses”; that one-year proclamation should not be described as a standing annual federal public holiday.
History of National Nurses Day
A federal National Nurse Week was proclaimed for February 10–16, 1974.
ANA records that New Jersey Governor Brendan Byrne declared May 6 as Nurses Day in 1978 and that Edward Scanlan promoted the date.
In 1981 nursing organizations supported a congressional effort for May 6, 1982; ANA formally acknowledged that date as National Nurses Day in February 1982.
Congress requested a May 6, 1982 National Recognition Day for Nurses, and President Ronald Reagan issued Proclamation 4913 for that specific date.
ANA later expanded recognition to National Nurses Week and in 1993 set May 6–12 as permanent week dates beginning in 1994.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
National Nurse Week, 1974
A federal week-long nursing recognition preceded the later May 6 day and modern May 6–12 week framework.
New Jersey Nurses Day
A New Jersey May 6 Nurses Day and subsequent promotion of that date preceded the 1981–1982 national recognition effort.
Nurses in New Mexico through U.S. Rep. Manuel Lujan, supported by ANA and other nursing organizations
ANA records that the 1981 resolution effort was initiated by nurses in New Mexico through Congressman Manuel Lujan and supported by ANA and other nursing organizations.
American Nurses Association Board of Directors; U.S. Congress and President Ronald Reagan for the 1982 federal recognition
ANA Board acknowledgment; Public Law 97-57 / House Joint Resolution 263; Presidential Proclamation 4913
First documented observance
ANA identifies May 6, 1982 as National Nurses Day; the federal government designated that same date as National Recognition Day for Nurses.
ANA expanded recognition to National Nurses Week and later established May 6–12 as the permanent annual week dates beginning in 1994.
American Nurses Association Board of Directors · ANA recognition decision
ANA initiated National RN Recognition Day on May 6, adding a distinct registered-nurse recognition within the broader May observance framework.
American Nurses Association · National RN Recognition Day initiative
American Nurses Association (ANA)
ANA maintains the May 6–12 National Nurses Week framework and its historical record.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
Predecessor and precursor observances
Earlier or merged observances are kept separate from former names and later institutional actions.
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
How to Observe National Nurses Day
Thank nurses for their professional service.
Learn about nursing roles and education from professional nursing organizations.
Support workplace recognition programs that respect nurses’ time and preferences.
Use health information from qualified clinical sources rather than treating an appreciation-day guide as medical advice.
National Nurses Day Facts
National Nurses Day is May 6.
ANA formally acknowledged May 6, 1982 as National Nurses Day.
Congress and President Reagan designated May 6, 1982 as National Recognition Day for Nurses for that year.
National Nurses Week now runs May 6–12.
National Nurses Day recognition is not a substitute for medical guidance from a qualified professional.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
American Presidency Project — Proclamation 4264 (opens in a new tab)
Presidential Record
American Presidency Project — Proclamation 4913 (opens in a new tab)
Presidential Record
U.S. Census Bureau — National Nurses Day and Week (opens in a new tab)
Government
American Nurses Association — National Nurses Week history (opens in a new tab)
Professional Association
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is National Nurses Day?
6 May The documented recurrence rule is: 6 May.
Does National Nurses Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is National Nurses Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United States / nursing professional recognition. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes National Nurses Day?
The reviewed sources identify American Nurses Association Board of Directors; U.S. Congress and President Ronald Reagan for the 1982 federal recognition as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Nurses in New Mexico through U.S. Rep. Manuel Lujan, supported by ANA and other nursing organizations. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as American Nurses Association (ANA).
Is National Nurses Day international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to United States. Its fuller verified scope is: United States / nursing professional recognition.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-18.
When is National Nurses Day?
It is observed on May 6, the opening day of National Nurses Week.
What happened in 1982?
ANA formally acknowledged May 6, 1982 as National Nurses Day, while Congress and President Ronald Reagan designated that date as National Recognition Day for Nurses.
Is National Nurses Day the same as National Nurses Week?
No. May 6 is the day observance and also the opening date of National Nurses Week, which runs May 6–12.
Did the 1982 federal proclamation create a permanent federal holiday?
No. The federal law and proclamation addressed May 6, 1982 specifically.
Other observances on May 6
These observances are also listed on May 6, 2027.
National Day of Prayer
36 U.S.C. §119
No Homework Day
The first-party Wellcat Holidays calendar lists No Homework Day on May 6 and identifies the holiday collection as created by Thomas and Ruth Roy.
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