Each year, the American Nurses Association (ANA) celebrates the nursing profession and nurses’ tireless commitment and unwavering dedication during National Nurses Week. The spotlight on the profession begins on May 6 and ends on May 12, on Florence Nightingale’s birthday.
The Nursing Profession Spotlight
According to Gallup, for 20 consecutive years, nursing has been named the most honest and ethical profession.
Since 1896, ANA has supported and promoted the nursing profession. The nursing profession is promoted at the state and regional levels by each of the ANA’s state and territorial nurse associations. During National Nurses Week, each association celebrates nurses and nursing contributions to the community.
Businesses across the country also join in the celebration, showing nurses some extra love by offering freebies and discounts. For example, Crocs gave away 10,000 free shoes to nurses and other health care workers. Crocs also teamed up with FIGS to give away free scrubs and its classic clogs. Chipotle Mexican Grill this year gave away free food to 2,000 medical professionals. To qualify for the free food, nurses were nominated and tagged on a designated Chipotle social post with a comment about their efforts and positive impact.
The Need for More Nurses
According to the ANA, there are 4.3 million registered nurses in the United States. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that, over the next decade, there will be approximately 194,500 openings for registered nurses each year, on average. This number reflects pre-pandemic estimates; therefore, it’s on the low side, as many nurses left the industry in 2020-2021.
The number-one reason why nurses leave the profession, according to Nurse.org, is inadequate staffing, although it’s important to note that, at the same time, the majority of nurses think nursing is a great career. The ANA has called upon the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address the current nursing shortage and identify short- and long-term solutions to staffing challenges.
About Manchester Specialty Programs
Manchester Specialty Programs honors all our nurses and health care workers throughout the country. We provide agents and brokers with the ability to offer a totally integrated business insurance solution serving the specific needs of Home Care, Allied Health, and Human/Social Services organizations fundamental to communities. Our partner insurance carriers and agents/brokers offer coverage tailored to the needs of the current and emerging care-delivery environment. For more information about our products, please contact us at 855.972.9399.