It is no secret that nurses are respected and valuable members of healthcare teams. There are several nationally recognized days throughout the year to honor nurses, including the most recent Certified Nurses Day, which is celebrated annually on March 19th.
Nurses are dedicated and passionate individuals who do more than simply care for their patients. They are unwaveringly committed to improving the healthcare field, supporting other medical team members, providing excellent patient care, and embarking on a lifelong learning journey.
In this blog, WVJC recognizes the hard work and dedication that professional nurses bring to the healthcare team, nationally recognized celebration days, how to show nurses appreciation, and shares words of wisdom from several WVJC Nursing alums.
Keep reading this blog to learn more about how you can celebrate nurses!
When Are Nationally Recognized Nursing Holidays?
There are many nationally recognized days to celebrate nurses, with the primary event being Nurse’s Week, which occurs from May 6th through May 12th each year. This significant week commemorates the birth of Florence Nightingale, who is commonly known as the founder of modern nursing.
Many specific occupations and sectors within the nursing profession each have their special appreciation day. The Nursing Journal published a complete list of 2025 nationally recognized nursing appreciation days, including special days for nurses working in critical care, oncology, pediatrics, and more, to student nurses and nursing assistants.
How To Celebrate Nurses
Nurses are essential to the healthcare team, and their impact goes beyond their patients. A nurse has likely impacted every individual, whether a part of the medical field, a family member of a patient, or a loved one of the nurses themselves. Excellent nurses provide patient care, boost morale, improve safety, and generate a sense of camaraderie within the medical team.
There are many ways to acknowledge the nurses who work tirelessly and selflessly to ensure their patients receive the best care possible. Below are four simple ways to show a nurse in your life that you care.
Encourage Professional Growth
Hospitals, medical facilities, and a nurse’s personal support network can offer support and encouragement to nurses and inspire them to further their education, obtain additional certifications, or gain specialized knowledge.
Write A Thank You Note
Another way to honor the nurses in your life is to write a simple thank-you letter, card, or social media post. Additionally, some medical facilities allow patients and their families to submit nurses for recognition awards for excellent care and bedside manner.
Give A Small Gift
Similarly to offering words of thanks, showing appreciation can also be done by gift-giving. A gift such as a nurse’s favorite drink or food, a career-specific gift, or a gift card to their favorite store are all ways to show gratitude and acknowledge their hard work.
Share Inspiring Stories
Finally, sharing the achievements of nurses on social media is another way to lift them and inspire others. Sharing a nurse’s story in a blog, newsletter, or social media post is an excellent way to thank them for their dedication.
Hear From WVJC Nursing Alumni!
WVJC is thrilled to share the stories of eight nurses who have graduated from a WVJC School of Nursing program and successfully passed the NCLEX-RN* licensure examination. Meet Christenna Bailey, Taylor Smith, Matt Yorio, Alexandra Sellards, Amayah Moore, Beth Branner, Katherine White, and Matthew Cooper, and learn how they are using their nursing education in the medical field!
Christenna Bailey is a graduate of the WVJC Charleston Nursing class of 2021 and now works as the Cystic Fibrosis Program Coordinator of Charleston Area Medical Center. She also sits on several advisory boards and the current Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Kentucky West Virginia Chapter’s board. She says her experience at WVJC helped propel her nursing career forward: “It leveled me up from LPN to RN, advancing my career.”
Matt Yorio graduated from the WVJC Morgantown Nursing program in 2022, and he now works as a travel nurse in an emergency room. He says the WVJC program prepared him to take the NCLEX-RN examination using ATI and Uworld. “Both programs combined with my instructors allowed me to pass the NCLEX on the first try,” Matt said.
Katherine White graduated from the WVJC Charleston Nursing class of 2022. She now works in the Cardiac Cath Lab at the University of Virginia Medical Center Hospital, performing diagnostic and interventional cardiology services and structural and pediatric procedures. Katherine says she felt extremely prepared to enter the nursing field upon graduation, thanks to the skills and knowledge she acquired from WVJC. “Our class was very well-prepared,” she said. “The program truly set us up for success. An integrated approach for learning, with varied teaching methods, was used.”
Taylor Smith is a graduate of the WVJC Charleston Nursing class of 2023 and has since become a school nurse for the Boone County, West Virginia school system. She has also decided to pursue her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree to further her career. Taylor says she would recommend WVJC to anyone interested in a nursing career: “The program offers a hands-on, supportive learning environment with experienced faculty who are dedicated to student success,” she continues, “It thoroughly prepares students for both the NCLEX-RN exam and real-world nursing practice.”
Beth Brannon graduated from the WVJC Charleston Nursing class of 2023. She now works as an Operating Room Nurse at CAMC General Hospital and is starting a new position as a hospice nurse. Beth appreciates the diversity of the knowledge and skills she received from WVJC: “It gave me the basic skills needed to be a nurse in many different fields within the profession.”
Alexandra Sellards is a graduate of the WVJC School of Nursing at CAMC class of 2024, and went on to work at the Charleston Area Medical Center as a general floor nurse. She says one aspect that significantly helped her prepare for her career is the clinical experience, having completed her clinical rotations in the same hospital and floor she now works on.
Amayah Moore is a graduate of the WVJC Charleston Nursing class of 2024 and now works as a Surgical Trauma nurse in an Intensive Care Unit. She also plans to start the next step of her educational journey toward earning her BSN in August. She says the training she received from WVJC helped prepare her for the fast-paced environment of nursing, “WVJC was able to simulate situations that I encounter in the real world today,” Amayah said. “I apply many things that I learned throughout nursing school to my nursing practices today.”
Matthew Cooper is a graduate of the WVJC Charleston Nursing class of 2024, and he now works as an emergency room nurse at CAMC Memorial Hospital. He plans to return to school to earn his BSN after gaining experience working in the field. He says the unique partnership with CAMC for clinical rotations helped him feel more prepared for his career, “The students have access to the [CAMC] facilities and opportunities for hands-on experience,” Matthew said.
Take The Next Step Toward Your Healthcare Career!
WVJC graduates come from all walks of life and make a significant impact on the medical teams they work on. The WVJC team is incredibly proud of each nurse who leaves our doors prepared to make a difference in the lives of their patients.
The path to becoming a nurse has never been clearer with the help of WVJC’s direct admission and accelerated approach to nursing education.
In just 18 months or less, you could be prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensure examination and be ready to enter the healthcare profession as a registered nurse. Get started today by requesting information from the WVJC School of Nursing!
*Passing the NCLEX-RN licensure examination is required to become a Registered Nurse.
The National Council of State Boards is an independent certifying entity. It is not affiliated with or connected to WVJC in any manner.