Honoring the power, presence, and impact of nurses everywhere

THE AMERICAN NURSES ENTERPRISE is proud to celebrate The Power of Nurses™ during National Nurses Week 2026, which recognizes the invaluable contributions nurses make to all recipients of care, our healthcare system, and our society (bit.ly/3PldDfA). From May 6 to 12, healthcare organizations, state and local governments, and other employers across the country will pause to acknowledge a workforce that shows up every day with expertise, compassion, and resolve.

This recognition matters for the nation’s more than 5 million RNs regardless of career stage or practice setting. Too often, nurses brush off their contributions with, “I was just doing my job.” But as our colleagues at the DAISY Foundation remind us, “A nurse’s daily, routine work is actually extraordinary to patients and their families.” The public sees your respect for human dignity, your competence, and your dedication to excellence—not only during Nurses Week, but all year long.

For the 24th consecutive year, nurses have been named the most honest and ethical professionals (bit.ly/41hrfuV). That trust is both an honor and a responsibility. It empowers us to embrace our authority as healthcare leaders, advocate powerfully for the individuals and communities we serve, and speak boldly about what the profession needs to thrive.

As president of the American Nurses Association (ANA), recognition sometimes comes my way that is beyond a single person. Recently, I was named to the TIME100 Health List of the most influential leaders in health (bit.ly/4sV2GQa). Although this honor was personally humbling, it belongs to every nurse pushing systems forward, every educator preparing the next generation of leaders, and every leader who refuses to accept the status quo.

Next month, ANA will recognize more than 15 distinguished nurses with national awards honoring contributions to the profession and to healthcare through distinguished practice, advocacy, pioneering influence, and more (bit.ly/47cYK5a). I also will have the privilege of presenting the 2026 ANA President’s Award to four individuals whose public leadership and influence have advanced the nursing profession in measurable and enduring ways: Linda Aiken, PhD, RN, FAAN; Gina Friel, DNP, RN, CRNP-PC; Jen Hamilton, BSN, RN, CEN, RNC-OB; and Rachel Robinson, MS, RN (bit.ly/47fXf69).

Celebrating the leadership, exemplary practice, and accomplishments of colleagues and icons inspires us to turn our own aspirations into reality. Yet recognition doesn’t always have to come in the form of a national award. A simple note of appreciation to a teammate, a mentor, or someone who shaped your journey can resonate deeply and make a lasting impact.

During my presidency, I’ve been grateful to hear from nurses nationwide—both those who agree with ANA’s positions and actions and those who challenge them. This engagement reflects a profession that’s informed, passionate, and invested in the future of nursing and the well-being of our patients. To everyone who has reached out, thank you.

Beyond celebrations, awards, and expressions of gratitude, National Nurses Week reminds us of the work that remains. We must continue building a resilient and self-sustaining healthcare system—one that protects nurses and supports their well-being not just for a single week in May, but every day, in both routine operations and times of crisis.

Achieving this goal would be worthy of true celebration. It would signal a shift from people-dependent survival to system-embedded sustainability—where resilience is a structural feature, not a perk.

As we strive toward that essential future, join National Nurses Week in celebrating the nurses all around us—in every community and every practice setting—who embody, each and every day, The Power of Nurses.

Jennifer Mensik Kennedy PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
President, American Nurses Association

American Nurse Journal. 2026; 21(5). Doi: 10.51256/ANJ052624