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National Nurses Week: May 6-12
 Media Kit
Press Release
Official 2007 NNW Catalog
NNW
A Message From ANA President Rebecca M. Patton, MSN, RN, CNOR
Greetings! As we celebrate National Nurses Week 2007 (NNW) May 6 - 12, the American Nurses Association (ANA) and its constituent member associations (CMAs) salute nurses across the country with the theme Nursing: A Profession and a Passion. Nursing is often described as both an art and a science; this year’s theme reflects the commitment to compassion and quality of care necessary to be a member of this proud community.
During NNW, we honor the significant contributions of nurses past and present, and look ahead to the challenges facing our profession in the future. One of those challenges is adapting to the needs of an ever changing society. Nurses have always answered the call to service during times of war, epidemic and natural disaster. Now we live in a world where the threat of a terrorist attack, SARS, or a Katrina-like catastrophe is all too real. That is why ANA is pleased to host its first policy conference, Nursing Care in Life, Death and Disaster, scheduled for June 20-22, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference focuses on the significant health and disaster preparedness policy questions related to the standard of care provided during a major disaster. With input from nurses, ANA will develop guidance dedicated to improving patient outcomes and quality of care during a crisis. I encourage nurses everywhere to take part in this dialogue which has the potential to impact all health care professionals.
The nursing shortage continues to be one of our profession’s significant challenges. The latest projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show RNs top the list of occupations with the largest projected job growth in the years 2002-2020. That growth, combined with the current trend of nurses retiring or leaving the profession could lead to a shortage of more than one million nurses by the end of this decade. ANA is dedicated to fighting for better working conditions for nurses to keep nurses from leaving the profession. We are also a strong advocate for increasing funding for nurse education.
But ANA can’t do it alone. This National Nurses Week, I urge you to add your voice, become more actively involved in confronting the issues facing nurses today, at the state and national level. ANA represents the interests of 2.9 million nurses; our combined strength can bring about much needed reform. During this week, we ask you to reaffirm your commitment to advocacy on behalf of nurses and our patients.
As we celebrate NNW, beginning with Nationals Nurses Day on May 6 and concluding with International Nurses Day (also Florence Nightingale’s birthday) on May 12, I hope you take time to reflect on how rewarding a nursing career can be, and to share your passion for nursing with others. This week is an opportunity to take stock, and take pride in what you accomplish as nurses, and hopefully to inspire others to choose this challenging and fulfilling profession.
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NNW Media Kit
