This year, May 11-15 marks National Nursing Week, an occasion to honour and reflect upon the incredible care that nurses provide to patients from diagnosis to discharge.
Each and every one of us has been supported by a nurse at some point in our lives, both directly and indirectly. Nurses have cared for us, our ailing parents and children, our spouses, and other loved ones. They guide us through some of our most difficult moments with professionalism and grace, drawing upon their immense knowledge, skill, and compassion.
Despite the incredible, live-saving and life-affirming work that nurses do each day, nurses continue to face high risks of exposure biological, chemical and radiation hazards, workplace violence, and burnout. According to a national survey from the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU), half of respondents rate the stress they experience in their job as high or very high. Additionally, a quarter of respondents meet clinical thresholds for anxiety, depression and burnout.
Clearly, there is still much work to be done to ensure that nurses are properly supported and resourced. To learn more about provincial campaigns in support of nurses, click here.
This year’s theme for National Nursing Week is “The Power of Nurses to Transform Health Care.” The Canadian Nursing Association selected this theme to “highlight the incredible impact nurses have in shaping health care, driving innovation, and advocating for patient-centered care.”
As we reflect upon National Nursing Week, we urge you to show some love to these powerful, unsung advocates and innovators by sharing a reflection about nurses on social media using the hashtags #CNA2026 #NursingWeek2026 #NationalNursingWeek #IND2026 #Nurses2026 #ThePowerofNurses.