Celebrate National Nurses Week

May 6-12, 2026

Celebrating the Power of Our Nurses

Nurses show up every day with skill, compassion, and dedication — and National Nurses Week is our opportunity to make sure that doesn’t go unnoticed. This week is about more than recognition; it’s about taking a moment to honor the real work nurses do and the real difference they make. At UW Nursing, we’re committed to celebrating our nurses, supporting our students, and lifting up the voices of our entire community during this week of national recognition.

As we celebrate Nurses Week 2026, I want to extend my deepest gratitude for the extraordinary care and expertise that our faculty and students demonstrate each and every day. Your dedication not only transforms the lives of patients and families but also strengthens the health of our communities by creating generational impact.

Executive Dean Hilaire J. Thompson, PhD, RN, ARNP, FAAN

Schedule of Events

A week built to celebrate, recognize, and show up for the people who do the same every day. Check out the full schedule and celebrate with us.

Monday, May 4
Kickoff
Nurse Week Kickoff
Nurses Week 2026 starts early at UW School of Nursing — because why wait? We’re celebrating the people who show up, speak up, and build what care looks like in the real world. This week is yours. Take a look at the schedule, make a plan, and join us for as much as you can. Start with filling out our Why Be a Nurse survey.
Tuesday, May 5
International Day of the Midwife
Breathe & Unwind: Meditation and Breathing Session
1–1:15 p.m. | T-661
Join Resa for a meditation and breathing session designed to support rest and renewal. RSVP for each session you wish to attend.
International Day of the Midwife
Breathe & Unwind: Gentle Yoga Flow
2–3 p.m. | T-661
Join Kami for a gentle yoga flow designed to support rest and renewal. RSVP for each session you wish to attend.
Wednesday, May 6
Grounds for Appreciation Coffee Cart
8–10 a.m. | T-301 Lobby
Enjoy a morning coffee on us from the Espresso Elegance barista cart.
First Day of Nurse Week
National School Nurse Day
Lunch on SoN
12–2 p.m. | T-332
National Nurses Week officially starts today and we’re marking the moment with a hot Qdoba lunch, on us. No agenda, just good food and good people.
UW Bothell
3–4:30 p.m. | UW Bothell: North Creek Events Center
Join us as we welcome new members into the Sigma Honor Society of Nursing at UW Bothell.
Thursday, May 7
Nurse Faculty Highlight
Today we’re shining a light on the faculty who make UW Nursing exceptional. Stay tuned on our social media channels, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and read profiles of a select group of our faculty and their recent accomplishments — just a glimpse of the incredible work happening across the UW School of Nursing.
Friday, May 8
National Student Nurse Day
Student Highlight
Our students are the future of the nursing profession and today we’re making sure they know it. Follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and check back on our website for features on students who are carrying nursing forward.
Monday, May 11
Neuroscience Nurse Celebration
Psych Student and Faculty Highlight
Psych nursing demands a unique kind of presence, patience, and skill. Today we’re recognizing the students and faculty in our psychiatric nursing community who do this work with dedication every day.
Tuesday, May 12
International Nurses Day
Student Highlight
This International Nurses Day, we’re spotlighting a student who has brought her nursing skills to communities around the world.
Tuesday, May 13
UW Tacoma
2–7 p.m. | UW Tacoma: William W. Philip Hall (WPH)
A symposium exploring how agency, advocacy, and equity are shaping the future of healthcare. Join us at UW Tacoma for an afternoon of conversation, ideas, and community.

Where Nurses Lead, Care Follows

Three stories of UW nurses who saw a gap in care, and chose to close it.

Hands that Meet the Moment

When a patient went into labor at a primary care clinic, a UW-trained nurse midwife and her team proved what accessible, community-centered care can do.

Read the Story

When the Whole Person Walks Through the Door

How one psychiatric nurse practitioner is closing the gap between mental and physical health through integrated, whole-person care in rural Washington.

Read the Story

Miles for Mamas

A UW nursing student witnessed what rural Tanzanian mothers endure to reach prenatal care, and came home determined to do something about it.

Read the story

Shaping the Future of Healthcare

We are proud to shine a light on just a few of the extraordinary faculty members who represent the best of what nursing has to offer.

Read the story