In honor of National Nurses Month in May and National Nurses Week (May 6-12), hospitals and health systems are recognizing nurses across the country.
This year, the American Nurses Association is again highlighting “The Power of Nurses” as its National Nurses Week theme.
Here are some stats to know about nurses in 2026:
1. For the 24th consecutive year, nurses have ranked as healthcare’s most trusted profession.
2. A March 26 American Nurses Enterprise-commissioned survey found that adjusting minimum wages for competitive compensation, as well as investments in safety, well-being, recruitment and retention, had a strong positive association with a hospital’s operating margin.
3. A Feb. 9 Philadelphia-based University of Pennsylvania survey found the majority of nurses who left bedside roles in recent years are willing to return, and adequate staffing levels are the factor that would reattract them.
4. Across the country, universities and health systems are opening and expanding nursing programs to meet student demand. However, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing found more than 65,000 qualified applicants were turned away in the most recent academic year — largely due to a shortage of nursing faculty.
Becker’s collected messages of appreciation from hospital and health system leaders across the U.S.
Note: Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Ashley Carlucci, DNP, RN. Chief Nursing Executive for Allegheny Health Network (Pittsburgh): As we celebrate Nurses Week, I want to pause and thank nurses for the leadership, compassion and expertise they bring to patients, families and communities every single day. Nursing sits at the center of care delivery, anchored in human caring, clinical excellence and a deep responsibility to those we serve.
Across every setting, nurses lead with courage and heart, often in moments that matter most. Your voice, judgment and presence continue to shape outcomes, elevate the care experience and advance the profession. Thank you for what you do, for who you are, and for the difference you make, today and always.
Melinda Cooling, DNP. Chief Nurse and Advanced Practice Provider Executive for OSF HealthCare (Peoria, Ill.): I am honored to share my appreciation for our OSF nurses during National Nurses Week. Each day, our nurses make a profound difference in the lives of patients, families and the communities we serve. Nursing is so much more than a profession, it is truly a calling. Our OSF Sisters remind us that everyone is here for a reason and with intention, and that purpose is deeply rooted in compassion, clinical expertise, advocacy and a commitment to providing safe care.
Whether at the bedside, in a clinic, at home or in the boardroom, the presence of our nurses shapes experiences and safety in ways that no metric can fully capture. Patients may not always remember the details of their care, but they always remember how they were treated, with kindness, empathy and respect. This lasting impact often comes from a reassuring word, attentive listening, strong advocacy, or the humility of the care team, and it is the very heart of nursing that extends far beyond clinical moments.
During Nurses Week, I want to express my deep gratitude for your expertise, courage and dedication. You are leaders every day, advancing our mission to deliver safe, compassionate care to every patient, every time. Thank you for being an OSF nurse and for everything you do!
Meredith Foxx, MSN, APRN. Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer of Cleveland Clinic: In honor of National Nurses Week, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to nurses across the country, and especially to our nurses at Cleveland Clinic, for the care, compassion and dedication you bring to your work every day. At Cleveland Clinic, nurses are the steady presence at the heart of care, bringing skill, empathy and humanity to every patient and every family in every moment that matters.
I have the privilege of seeing your impact firsthand. You listen closely, anticipate needs and advocate to ensure every patient feels safe, informed and respected. Over the past year, Cleveland Clinic nurses have led meaningful improvements in patient safety, strengthened communication across teams and translated evidence into practice in even the most complex situations. Just as important is the way you show up for one another.You mentor colleagues, share knowledge and build strong, supportive teams grounded in professionalism and trust. Nursing is more than a profession. It is a calling rooted in service and compassion. Thank you for the countless ways you make a difference each day, including the moments that often go unseen. It is truly an honor to work alongside Cleveland Clinic nurses and to witness the difference you make for our patients, families and communities.
Peggy Norton-Rosko, DNP, RN. Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Trinity Health (Livonia, Mich.): Across every role and care setting, our nurses make an immense impact every day through their knowledge, compassion and steady presence. They blend clinical expertise and human connection, caring for patients and families while also supporting and learning from one another. Our nurses are critical to driving meaningful progress and ensuring we continue to meet the changing needs of our communities.
To our Trinity Health nurses, thank you for the dedication and pride you bring to your work every day. The care you provide reflects not only clinical excellence, but the heart of who we are as an organization. Your impact extends far beyond the walls of our facilities, and it is an honor to serve alongside you. During this Nurses Month, and all year long, I share my heartfelt gratitude for all the ways our nurses bring healing and hope to those we serve.
Heather Resseger, DNP, RN. Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at NorthBay Health (Fairfield Calif.): To our NorthBay Health nursing team: Thank you for the extraordinary care you provide each and every day. The Power of Nurses is evident in every patient interaction, every moment of compassion and every life you touch. Your unwavering commitment not only shapes the patient experience but drives the clinical excellence that defines who we are as an organization. I am incredibly proud that we represent the very best of nursing through measurable patient outcomes and our achievement of Magnet with Distinction recognition — a testament to the strength, skill and dedication you bring to your practice.
I am deeply grateful for your resilience and commitment as we continue to grow and evolve to meet the needs of those we serve. As we expand access to care across Northern California, you remain at the center of improving outcomes and advancing the health of our communities. It is truly an honor to celebrate you and to witness the profound impact you make every day through the power of nursing excellence.
Betty Jo Rocchio, DNP, RN. Executive Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive at Advocate Health (Charlotte, N.C.): I still remember early in my nursing career caring for a patient facing a difficult cancer diagnosis. They were overwhelmed — trying to absorb new information, new fears and a future that suddenly felt uncertain. I couldn’t cure them, but I could care for them. I could sit at eye level, explain what was happening in plain language, hold a hand a little longer, and make sure their voice didn’t get lost in the rush of the day. When they thanked me for what I thought were “small” things, it reminded me that nursing is, at its heart, a promise: to show up with skill, courage and humanity when someone needs it most.
That promise is alive in you. To nurses everywhere — in hospitals and clinics, operating rooms, schools and homes — you step into life’s most vulnerable moments and bring expertise, calm and connection. You combine skill and calm to help patients feel safe in unfamiliar moments. You assess, prioritize and intervene with expertise that changes the course of care. You notice the small signs that make a big difference. You advocate, you teach, you lead and you keep going — always with purpose. During Nurses Week, I want to say what our patients feel every day: thank you. Thank you for choosing this profession, for the compassion you give so freely and for the strength you lend to every person and community you serve.
Brenda Rocha, DNP, RN. Chief Nursing Officer at Baystate Medical Center, Baystate Health (Springfield, Mass.): To my highly esteemed nurses, I salute and honor you with deep appreciation for your commitment to such an extraordinary profession. Nursing remains one of the most respected and trusted calling in the world, and each of you exemplifies why. Thank you for your smiles that bring comfort, your empowered voices that advocate fiercely, your courageous spirit in the face of challenge and your endless passion. The impact you make is felt in every moment of care, whether through a simple touch or an unspoken word.
Your resilience is nothing short of inspiring, and your spirit of inquiry continues to push the boundaries of what is possible, improving outcomes and transforming lives. I am deeply honored to lead you, to learn from you, and to walk beside you in this meaningful work. You are the heart of healing, the voice of hope and the embodiment of excellence in action. Thank you, for all that you are and all that you give. Happy Nurses Week.
Robert Rose, DNP, RN. Senior Vice President of Nursing and Chief Nursing Officer at Ascension (St. Louis): Our Ascension Mission is not just a statement; it is a tangible reality made possible by your commitment to be present for others and to ensure the most vulnerable receive the care they need. During National Nurses Week, we celebrate the incredible strength and dedication of our Ascension nurses. The American Nurses Association’s theme, “The Power of Nursing,” deeply represents us, as it is lived out every day through the extraordinary care you deliver to our families, patients, and the communities we serve. Your dedication and commitment make our Ascension Mission a living reality, ensuring the most vulnerable receive the care they need.
We recognize that nursing is a meaningful vocation — centered on serving humanity and ministering to people during some of the most difficult times of their lives. Whether you are impacting a patient’s care, promoting healing or working tirelessly to remove barriers so families can be reunited, your impact is immeasurable. Thank you for everything you do to care for our patients and families, and for being the hands and heart of Ascension. I am proud to practice alongside you!
Kathleen Sanford, RN. Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer of CommonSpirit Health (Chicago): As we celebrate National Nurses Week, I reflect on the work we did five years ago to develop the first strategic plan for nursing at CommonSpirit Health. At that time, we created five different pins to celebrate nursing, each engraved with words describing what it means to be a nurse at CommonSpirit. The words we chose to honor the skills and vision that nurses bring to care for patients and communities are applicable across our profession:
• Head, heart and hands: You use your head, your heart and your hands to provide care for patients.
• Intellect with love: This is a reminder that we are bright, science-focused professionals who always practice with love.
• Compassion and skill: No matter how skilled you are, in healthcare you must also have compassion, and that describes nurses perfectly.
• Art and science: As we know, nursing is both an art and a science.
• Collegiality and leadership: Collegiality defines the teamwork and spirit of our profession, while leadership reflects the vital role that nurses play in shaping patient care and driving healthcare innovation forward.
To all nurses: Thank you for choosing this profession and for using your talents to make a difference. Most of all, thank you for being united in the purpose and passion of caring for patients.
Janet Tomcavage, MSN, RN. Executive Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive for Geisinger (Danville, Pa.): Nurses are the steady heart of healthcare — showing up every day with skill, compassion and resilience. You care for patients at their most vulnerable moments, listening closely, advocating fiercely, and delivering expert care with humanity and dignity. Your ability to combine clinical excellence with genuine empathy makes a lasting difference not only in outcomes, but in how patients and families experience care.Thank you for the extraordinary work you do, often under intense situations with higher acuity needs. Your dedication, teamwork and courage lift entire communities and inspire everyone around you. Healthcare is stronger because of you, and your impact reaches far beyond the bedside into our ambulatory and home settings. We are deeply grateful for all that you do — today and every day.
Syl Trepanier, DNP, RN. Chief Nurse Executive at Providence (Renton, Wash.): It is with immense gratitude and pride that I thank each and every nurse across the Providence family of organizations. Thank you for your dedication to our patients, to the nursing profession, to our communities and to each other. I know what you do is not easy. The long hours, the difficult decisions, the sometimes-heartbreaking moments. You are appreciated, you are loved and valued. Happy Nurses Week.Anne Marie Watkins, DNP, RN. Chief Nursing Executive and Senior Vice President at UCI Health (Irvine, Calif.): During Nurses Week, we celebrate the compassion, expertise, courage and leadership that nurses bring to every patient interaction and every corner of healthcare. Across UCI Health, I am deeply grateful for our nurses who heal, advocate, innovate and lead with both skill and heart. Whether at the bedside, in our clinics, classrooms, research settings or leadership roles, your impact is profound and far-reaching. Thank you for the extraordinary difference you make for our patients, families and communities each day.
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