National Nurses Week takes place annually May 6-12, and we want to make sure this year’s celebration is the best your nurses have ever seen! Because nurses often work crazy schedules, we suggest planning something small for every day of National Nurses Week. That way, everyone can participate in the celebration regardless of which days or times they work.

When planning National Nurses Week gifts and events, make the appreciation personal by customizing our ideas for your team. Personal recognition is the most effective, so the more you can tailor the appreciation to the individual, the better.

 
? May 6 – Kick start the week with a theme.
Themed events and celebrations are more memorable, effective, and fun. Select a theme for National Nurses Week and coordinate your gifts, activities, and communication to match. Get National Nurses Week theme ideas in the Quick Tips section of the newsletter!

? May 7 – Make them feel appreciated with a gift.
Surprise nurses with a personally delivered gift from our new Nurses Rock theme. Choose a gift that will help nurses simplify their busy work days, like a tote bag, or Twist Top Tumbler

? May 8 – Keep recognition personal with a thank you card.
Nurses desire a personal thank you, and receiving a thank you note is at the top of their list of favorite ways to be recognized during National Nurses Week. Ask patients, teammates, and administrators to write a thank you note for their favorite nurse.  It’s easy to send quick and personal thanks with free ePraise.

? May 9 – Get the staff involved.
Nurses are the lifeblood of a hospital, office, or organization, so get the staff involved in the appreciation during National Nurses Week. Encourage everyone to take the time to thank a nurse by writing a thank you note, participating in an activity, or decorating for the week.

? May 10 – Have fun! Host lunch for the nurses.
Food is always a popular way to celebrate National Nurses Week. Bring in a catered lunch or ask staff to contribute to a potluck meal. Providing a meal for nurses will simplify their very busy schedules, and let them know you truly appreciate their time.

? May 11 – Present awards to your outstanding performers.
National Nurses Week is a great time to present awards to your outstanding nurses, and it doesn’t require a formal award ceremony. Throughout the week, encourage nurses and staff to nominate a high performing nurse. At the end of the week, hold a stand-up meeting and present a Character Pin award to the nurses who received the most nominations.

? May 12 – A Sweet Treat to End the Week.
Wrap up your National Nurses Week celebrations with a small, sweet treat for all your nursing staff. You can put together small goodie bags with snacks or distribute popsicles and ice cream bars. For an added personal touch, hand deliver the treats to each nurse with a sincere “thank you!”

Quick Tips
Theme ideas for celebrating National Nurses Week.

? Positive Praise – Celebrate nurses like the rock stars they are during National Nurses Week. This rock star theme will be fun for the entire organization!
? World of Difference - An international theme provides lots of opportunities for incorporating delicious food into your celebration!
? Star Performer – Give your nurses the red carpet treatment during National Nurses Week.
? Teamwork – Encourage the entire organization with a team based theme. Learn how Baudville used the Olympics for an event theme.

Best Practices
Transform the culture of your organization with employee recognition.

Employee recognition can dramatically improve the culture at your organization. We helped a small healthcare organization improve employee relations, morale, and engagement with a strategic employee recognition program. Visit our Recognition Resource Center to learn about the process we used, the exciting results, and how you can do the same.

Articles
Five Ways to Appreciate Teachers and Nurses
National Nurses Week is Coming Up!
National Nurses Week Ideas on the Baudville Blog 
Transforming Culture with Recognition: A Success Story