Signed into federal law in 1982, the genesis of National Nurses Day began here in New Mexico. Yes, that is right, it was NM nurses’ voices! In 1981, Carol Lewis, a registered nurse at Lovelace Medical Center in Albuquerque (who also inspired her daughter to become a nurse in Las Vegas, NM), initiated the concept of National Nurses Day. With the backing of the New Mexico Nurses Association (NMNA) and other nursing organizations, Carol Lewis proposed the idea to New Mexico Representative Manuel Lujan, Jr.
Congressman Lujan (R-NM) served NM in the U.S. House of Representatives 1969 to 1989. Convinced by NM nurses’ voices, he put forth the resolution to celebrate May 6th as National Recognition Day for Nurses. It was passed by the NM Legislature that year. The American Nurses Association (ANA) also ral-lied to support, and in 1982 the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution (H.J.Res.263) designating May 6 to be National Recognition Day for Nurses. On March 25, 1982, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed it into public law. This was not the first time a day of recognition for nurses had been proposed at a national level, but this was the effort that saw success (ANA, n.d.).
In 1990, the ANA expanded the recognition into a weeklong celebration, declaring May 6-12 as National Nurses Week. Global appreciation was pro-claimed in 1965 by the International Council of Nurses with May 12th recognized as International Nurses Day.
10/95 STAT. 978 PUBLIC LAW 97-57—OCT. 9, 1981, Oct. 9, 1981 [H.J. Res. 263] National Recognition Day for Nurses. Designation authorization. Public Law 97- 97th Congress •57 Joint Resolution To designate May 6, 1982, as “National Recognition Day for Nurses.”
Whereas nursing women and men have provided significant contributions to the health care of our Nation’s citizens of all ages, sex, and creeds for more than one hundred years;
Whereas nurses provide care in hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, clinics, rehabilitation hospitals, physicians’ offices, private duty nursing, and industrial nursing;
Whereas nurses’ skills and knowledge provide disease and injury prevention, and aim toward restoration of health;
Whereas nurses strive to provide comfort, solace, and education to those entrusted to their care;
Whereas nursing is a highly technical, sophisticated, and exacting science…
Thank you, NM Nurses, and Congressman Lujan! Amazing what one voice can start.
References
American Nurses Association (ANA). (n.d.) National Nurses Week history. ANA. Retrieved
April 01, 2024, from https://www.nursingworld.org/education-events/national-nurses-week/history/
Manuel Lujan Jr. (2024, April 3). https://www.congress.gov/member/manuel-lujan/L000506
Moore, R. (2022). Local nurses celebrate National Nurses Week remembering mom, nurses’ advocate. KTNV Las Vegas. Retrieved April 01, 2024, from https://www.ktnv.com/news/local-nurse-celebrates-national-nurses-week-remembering-mom-nurses-advocate
Peters, G. & Woolley, J. T. (n.d.). Proclamation 4913 – National Recognition Day for Nurses, 1982. American Presidency Project. Retrieved April 01, 2024, from htps://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/proclamation-4913-national-recognition-day-for-nurses-1982
