Nurses are the driving force behind exceptional patient care, bringing skill, compassion, and leadership to every moment. Nurses Week, celebrated May 6–12, is a chance to recognize their extraordinary impact and honor this year’s Tipton Health theme, The Power of Nurses, which celebrates both what nurses do and who they are.
Hospitals across the country are marking the week with meaningful celebrations that recognize and uplift their nursing teams. We asked several Tipton Health clients how they’re honoring their nurses, and each shared a common goal: creating moments of appreciation that strengthen connection, boost morale, and reinforce the vital role nurses play every day.
At MedStar – Week of Meaningful Recognition
Nurses at MedStar Health show their spirit, dancing, celebrating, and bringing joy to their work. Every moment of recognition and fun boosts morale, strengthens teamwork, and supports a culture of excellence.
At MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital, Baltimore, MD, nurses chose the theme “Courage, Compassion, and Commitment” to guide a week of celebrations focused on connection and team spirit. Themed days, from Maryland Monday to Fun Friday, add energy and creativity to recognizing nursing teams.
The week also features meaningful traditions, including a Blessing of the Hands ceremony, a Maryland Nurse Honor Guard tribute, and flowers and shared meals for all shifts. Excellence will be celebrated through honors like Nurse of the Year and the DAISY Nurse Leader Award, along with recognition for CNA and PCT team members, while a Wellness Fair and team gatherings foster well-being and camaraderie.
As CNO Karen Owings shares, “Recognition, whether large or small, plays a critical role in supporting nurse well-being, strengthening teamwork, and reinforcing a culture of excellence.”
At Queen’s Medical Center- Honoring the Heart of the Hospital
Every smile and every quiet moment counts. This Nurses Week, Queen’s honors all nurses, especially the 120 with 30+ years of service, whose dedication, compassion, and expertise make a difference in every corner of the hospital and form the foundation of Queen’s powerful nursing culture.
“Nurses Week gives us a meaningful moment to honor the heart of our organization, our nurses,” said Linda Puu, CNO, The Queen’s Medical Center, Honolulu, HI. “Each day, their compassion, strength, and clinical excellence create safer, more healing environments. This week allows us to celebrate their impact and remind them how deeply valued they are to our mission.”
Queen’s is marking Nurses Week with themed dress-up days, leadership-led roving carts for all shifts, a clinical ladder luncheon, a poster showcase of nursing projects, a Nursing Awards ceremony, and a special Southwest Airlines giveaway coordinated by the Philanthropy department. Nursing achievements will also be recognized internally and in local newspapers, extending appreciation beyond the hospital walls.
At UCLA Health – Celebrating a Culture of Support and Excellence
UCLA Health in Los Angeles is honoring nurses with daily appreciation activities, including breakfast events, wellness breaks, and gratitude rounds within units. Leaders visit various campuses and outpatient sites to personally thank nurses, while professional development highlights, peer-nominated awards, and a systemwide celebration with food and music recognize clinical excellence, advanced practice milestones, and teamwork.
Every shift and role is recognized, from night-shift appreciation carts to milestone acknowledgments for long-tenured nurses and personalized welcomes for new team members. Wellness-focused offerings, such as mindfulness sessions, chair massages, and quiet recharge spaces promote a supportive environment where nurses can thrive, reduce stress, and build stronger connections.
“Nurses Week is an opportunity to honor the power, purpose, and profound impact of our nursing community,” says Jessica M. Phillips, Executive Director of Nursing Practice, Education, and Research, and Magnet® Program Director. “Their influence extends far beyond the bedside, shaping the future of care, advancing innovation, and strengthening the health of our communities. We thank them for the extraordinary difference they make every day.”
Need a Speaker for Nurses Week?
If you’re still planning your own Nurses Week celebrations and would like a guest speaker, Tipton Health can help. Our experts can speak at your event on a wide variety of motivational and informational nursing topics:
For more information on this service, contact nursespeakers@tiptonhealth.com