National Nursing Week
May 12-18, 2025
National Nursing Week is May 12-18, 2025, and this year’s theme is The Power of Nurses to Transform Health. This theme highlights the incredible impact nurses have in shaping health care, driving innovation, and advocating for patient-centred care.
We look forward to celebrating with you! Shine a spotlight on the vital role that nurses have in health care by following us on social media and using the hashtags #CNA2025 #NursingWeek2025 #NationalNursingWeek #IND2025 #Nurses2025 #NursingTheme2025 #ThePowerofNurses
We look forward to celebrating National Nursing Week (May 12-18), Indigenous Nurses Day (May 12), International Nurses Day (May 12), and Student Nurses Day (May 14) with you all!
About National Nursing Week
The week draws attention to nurses, increasing the awareness of the public, policy-makers and governments of the many contributions of nursing to the well-being of Canadians.
In 1971, ICN designated May 12, the birthday of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale, as International Nurses Day. In 1985, CNA members passed a resolution to begin negotiations with the federal government to have the week containing May 12 proclaimed as National Nurses Week annually. Soon after, the federal minister of health proclaimed the second week of May as National Nurses Week. In 1993, the name was changed to National Nursing Week to emphasize the profession's accomplishments as a discipline.