Every year, Nursing Week is celebrated during the week of Florence Nightingale’s May 12 birthday.

This year, Nursing Week 2011 runs from Monday, May 9 to Sunday, May 15.

MNU would like to extend a special thank you to all our nurses for their commitment to caring.

During this week, the MNU award winning ad, Journey, will be running in recognition of the special role that nurses play in the lives of patients each and every day. 

History of Nursing Week

In 1971, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) designated May 12, Florence Nightingale's birthday, as International Nurses Day.

In 1985, in recognition of the dedication and achievements of the nursing profession, the Canadian 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.

The purpose of the week is to increase awareness among the public, policy-makers and governments of the many contributions of nursing to the well-being of Canadians.

It is an opportunity to educate Canadians about health issues, to provide information they need to make decisions about their health, and to promote the role of the nurse.

Source:Veteran's Affairs Canada