A history of you

FigureThe month of May is a time to celebrate nurses. Let's begin with a brief review of our history. Florence Nightingale established the first formal nursing education program in 1860. That represents 166 years of professional nursing education—an extraordinary legacy and a history truly worth celebrating. The American Nurses Association has now represented nurses for well over a century. The first gathering of what would become the ANA met in 1896. “ANA has come a long way since 1896. When the Nurses Associated Alumnae of the United States and Canada first assembled at the Manhattan Beach Hotel near New York City, fewer than 20 of the delegates were nurses. At the corresponding convention just 2 years later, more than 10,000 nurses were in attendance.”1 This growth speaks volumes about the dedication of nurses to unite as a professional workforce and to advocate for health care quality and safety for everyone. In 1953, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare presented a proposal to President Dwight D. Eisenhower recommending formal recognition of Nurses Day. The first Nurses Day was celebrated in 1954, marking the centennial of Florence Nightingale's service during the Crimean War. It was not until 1982, when President Ronald Reagan designated May 6 as National Nurses Day, that the observance became officially recognized nationwide. From 1990 to 1993, the ANA successfully expanded the celebration to Nurses Week, observed annually from May 6 to 12. Nursing has a long-standing history of education, advocacy, and professional care grounded in science and guided by a strong ethical code—one that truly sets our profession apart. I hope you feel proud and honored to be part of this remarkable profession. Nurses work tirelessly across every aspect of health care. Together, we have overcome countless barriers while fighting for the rights of our communities and our peers. We have fought to have our voices heard, to be recognized as professionals and leaders, and to earn a seat at the table alongside other health care leaders. We have advocated just as fiercely in local, state, and national legislative arenas. Today, nursing stands as a formidable force—dedicated professionals on the front lines of health care, leading the charge for meaningful change. You drive health care policy and transformation. Nurses at the bedside, in clinics, and classrooms. Nurses serving on boards, holding public office, participating in senior leadership teams, and shaping education. We are a force to be reckoned with—and you are a force to be reckoned with. I hope this month, and every month, you take a moment to remember the difference you make every single day. Lives are better because of what you do. You are champions, advocates, and leaders. Nursing Made Incredibly Easy has proudly stood beside you for 24 years—dedicated to the lifelong learner, the professional nurse, and every stage of education and career development, from student to retirement. We thank you for all that you do. We also invite our readers at every stage of their nursing journey to engage with us—through topic suggestions, on social media, and via our continuing education offerings. We want to hear from you: where you work, your specialty, and what you want to see reflected in our publications. After all, this celebration is about everything you stand for and do every day.