Celebrate National Nurses Week from May 6th – 12th!

National Nurses Week takes place from May 6th – 12th. It’s a week each year to honor the commitment, dedication and hard work of those in the nursing profession. This year, honoring our nurses is more important than ever. They are risking their lives on the frontline every day, helping fight the coronavirus pandemic. The American Nurses Association and the World Health Organization have already declared 2020 to be the global “Year of the Nurse.” So this week, take a moment to celebrate nurses in New York City and around the world.

Looking for more ways to honor our healthcare workers during the crisis? Check out our list of face masks that give back to local communities.

History of National Nurses Week

We’ve celebrated National Nurses Week since 1954. The first National Nurses Week occurred in October and commemorated the hundredth anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s work in Crimea. Nightingale was a famous British nurse who fought to improve conditions for the sick and whose advocacy set the standard for modern nursing today. In 1854, she travelled to the frontline of the Crimean War where she selflessly tended to wounded soldiers.

In 1982, President Reagan declared May 6th National Recognition Day for Nurses. Then, in 1990, the American Nurses Association extended that day into a week of celebrations, culminating on Nightingale’s birthday on May 12th.

How to Celebrate National Nurses Week

In the past, this has been a week to honor nurses with banquets, seminars and celebrations. Now, those types of gatherings are impossible at a moment when nurses are most in need of acknowledgement and encouragement. Still, there are other ways to celebrate National Nurses Week. Check them out below:

Empty Your Purse to Feed a Nurse

Since late March, Ruby’s Cafe has been bringing meals to nurses and doctors working long shifts. They are serving hospitals all over the city, but are struggling to meet demand. By donating to their GoFundMe page, you help them in their quest to provide healthcare workers with high-quality hot meals.

Send Coffee and Gratitude to Long Island Nurses

Pipeline Coffee in Long Island has decided to give back to their community with the #PoweredbyPipeline movement. They donate freshly brewed coffee to local doctors and nurses. They want to show their appreciation for “superheroes in scrubs” by “keeping their cups full and their spirits up.” You can contribute by donating to their Venmo (@pipeline-Rvc or @pipeline-wantagh).

Give a Nurse a Shoutout

Take a moment to write a social media post about a nurse who inspires you. You can share it on Facebook or Twitter. Alternatively, you can send it to the Australian College of Nursing’s virtual Inspiration Wall. They are collecting stories and shoutouts about nurses that have been important in people’s lives and using them to create one big wall of positivity.

Send a Card to Local Nurses

For a small donation, New York Presbyterian will send a card on your behalf to a nurse at the hospital. You can direct your card to a specific nurse or to a team at the hospital. You can also add a personalized message to let NYC’s healthcare heroes know you’re thinking of them!

Head to Florence Nightingale’s 200th Birthday Party (on Zoom)!

Florence Nightingale would’ve turned 200 this year! So to celebrate nurses around the world you are invited to join her Zoom birthday party on May 12th. There are three separate parties to accommodate those in various time zones. Nurses will be able to meet others in their profession and share inspirational stories with each other about working during the COVID-19 crisis.

Super Soccer Stars

Soccer Stars is New York&rsquo;s most popular youth educational soccer program! With 24 years of experience under our cleats, we have positively impacted over one million kids in our local community by putting the FUN in FUNdamentals in our weekly classes and camps. At Soccer Stars, we use the soccer ball as a vehicle to help children not only improve their soccer skills, but develop self-confidence and physical literacy, improve gross motor skills, build teamwork, and hone socialization skills. Our highly trained coaches and early childhood experts lead an age-specific curriculum with a low kid-to-coach ratio so every child gets individual attention and can grow at their own pace. Kids ages 1-12+ can join our seasonal programs, including Parent &amp; Me, FUNdamentals, Development Training, and Travel Soccer. Join us at one of over 80 locations in neighborhoods across across Westchester County, Connecticut and New York, available 7 days-a-week: Connecticut: <ul> <li>Cos Cob</li> <li>Greenwich</li> <li>Port Chester</li> </ul> &nbsp; Westchester: <ul> <li>Briarcliff</li> <li>Eastchester</li> <li>Mt. Kisco</li> <li>New Rochelle</li> <li>Ridgefield</li> <li>Scarsdale</li> <li>White Plains</li> </ul> &nbsp; New York City: <ul> <li>Bronx</li> <li>Inwood</li> <li>Upper West Side</li> <li>Upper East Side</li> </ul> &nbsp; Can&rsquo;t find a class or location that fits your schedule? Soccer Stars also offers private classes for small groups or individual training. Let our coaches come to you with a completely customizable program, anytime, anywhere. Birthday parties are also available!&nbsp;

The Tutorverse

Join The Tutorverse for the highest quality in academic enrichment and test preparation! Whether your student is gearing up for the&nbsp;state exams, ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, or SAT/ACT, their team of experienced and local professional educators&nbsp;can help. Have your student join a&nbsp;small-group class&nbsp;at our downtown or Upper East Side locations. Or, they can meet with a&nbsp;private tutor when and where it&rsquo;s most convenient for your family. Does your student need help building study skills or improving grades? Whether your middle or high schooler needs help with&nbsp;STEM or humanities, The Tutorverse's patient and affirming tutors will teach them how to build confidence and content mastery.&nbsp;<a style="color: #1155cc; background-color: #ffffff;" href="mailto:info@thetutorverse.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Send an email</a> or give them a call.

Adventuring Portal

<a name="m_-1473885667065203258__Hlk72147528"></a>Adventuring Portal runs Dungeons and Dragons (D&amp;D) games for kids.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We have created a safe online space for tweens and teens to learn and play D&amp;D. Our D&amp;D Summer Camp session are a one-week experience.&nbsp;&nbsp;Monday &ndash; Friday.&nbsp;&nbsp;Each day will be 3 hours of gaming (with 2 breaks build in).&nbsp;&nbsp;15 total gaming hours for $180.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you have played with us before, you are entitled to 10% off.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Need your kids, nieces or nephews, grand kids or neighbor&rsquo;s kids to be occupied for a bit so you can get work done &amp; take care of your to-do list? Maybe your tween or teen is still a bit isolated and craves connection with their peers? Whether your teen/tween has played D&amp;D before or is brand-new to the experience, this safe space brings players together to have fun and solve problems as a team in ways few other online opportunities do. All our games focus on experiential learning.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Our players leave knowing all the basic game play as well as experiencing: teamwork, bravery, compassion, generosity, negotiation, improvisation, gamer etiquette, strategy, critical thinking, problem solving, cartography and probability - all through online D&amp;D adventuring! We are an inclusive organization and welcome gamers who are LGBTQIA+ and those on any spectrum.&nbsp; All girls&rsquo; groups available.&nbsp; I am a parent, a certified elementary school and middle school math teacher and last summer in the midst of the mess started&nbsp;Adventuring Portal, an&nbsp;online Dungeons &amp; Dragons&nbsp;business&nbsp;for kids. There are so many benefits to playing D&amp;D and I hope you will consider us as a great way for your child to safely socialize, grow as people and have a great time.