Every year, National Nurses Week invites us to pause and honor a profession rooted in compassion, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to care.
This Nurses Week, I encourage you to take a moment to appreciate a nursing colleague, friend or family member. Let them know how their care and compassion has made a difference in your life!
As I reflect on my 40 years as a nurse, I feel both humbled and energized by the extraordinary legacy we carry forward. Nursing is not just a career—it is a calling shaped by human connection, scientific curiosity, and the courage to show up, again and again, for people in their most vulnerable moments.
History of Nurses Day and Week
Efforts to create formal nurses’ recognition began in 1954 on the 100th anniversary of Nightingale’s Crimean War service. After decades of advocacy by nursing organizations, the ANA designated May 6 as National Nurses Day in 1982 and expanded it to a week-long observance in 1994. These fixed dates enhance planning and align the tribute with Nightingale’s birthday.
The history of nursing is rich with pioneers who transformed care through both innovation and heart. Florence Nightingale is often recognized as the founder of modern nursing, bringing sanitation and data-driven care to the forefront. But beyond her statistics and systems, she modeled something deeper—the importance of presence. That legacy continues today in every nurse who sits at the bedside, listens without judgment, and advocates fiercely for those in their care.
The observance recognizes the critical role of nurses in patient care, research, leadership, and education. It raises public awareness of the challenges nurses face, such as staffing shortages and workplace stress – and promotes professional pride and public gratitude. The ANA and partner bodies like the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses host webinars, award ceremonies, and advocacy events to spotlight the profession’s impact
Nurses Take Leading Role in Diabetes Care
Today, nurses represent the largest group of healthcare professionals specializing in diabetes. Nearly half (46%) of those who hold a CDCES credential are nurses. That’s not just a statistic—it’s a reflection of the profound impact nurses have in shaping how diabetes care is delivered, understood, and experienced every day.
In the world of diabetes care, nurses have been at the center of transformation. From the early days of checking urine glucose to administering pork and beef insulin to today’s advanced technologies, nurses have led the way. As early adopters of continuous glucose monitoring and automated insulin delivery systems, nurses have bridged the gap between complex science and real-life application. We are educators, coaches, and translators—helping people make sense of numbers, medications, and daily decisions that can feel overwhelming.
What makes diabetes nursing uniquely powerful, is the ongoing contact nurses often maintain with individuals over a lifetime. Diabetes doesn’t take a day off, and neither does the emotional weight that often accompanies it. In my work, I’ve learned that the most meaningful breakthroughs don’t come from adjusting a medication or starting a CGM, they come from creating a space where someone feels seen, heard, and supported.
Nurses as a Guiding Force
Over the decades, I’ve witnessed incredible advancements in diabetes care—new medications, smarter devices, and more personalized approaches. Nurses, along with their colleagues, are often the steady thread in a fragmented healthcare system. We are the ones who notice subtle changes, ask deeper questions, and advocate when something doesn’t feel right. In diabetes care, this might mean recognizing patterns in glucose trends, addressing social determinants of health, or simply acknowledging the burnout a person feels after years of self-management. These moments matter more than we often realize.
As I reflect on my journey, from bedside nursing to education, from rural clinics to national stages – I am continually reminded that our greatest impact comes not from having all the answers, but from presence. The simple act of sitting with someone, validating their experience, and walking alongside them can be profoundly healing – for them and for us. This mutual growth is at the heart of sustainable, meaningful care.
Heartfelt THANK YOU to all my nurse colleagues, leaders, and friends.
In hospitals, clinics, schools, and beyond – you show up at every hour of the day and night, bringing skill, compassion, and unwavering dedication. You give of yourselves in ways both seen and unseen, helping others heal, receive comfort, and feel cared for in their most vulnerable moments.
National Nurses Week offers us a moment to pause and honor your service and a profession grounded in compassion, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to showing up for others. Thank YOU!
Coach Beverly, RN and author of Healing through Connection for Healthcare Professionals!
Nurses Week Celebration Sale
Save 20% on all Online Courses & Programs
Use Code “Nurse20” during checkout to apply the discount
Sale ends May 12th at 11:59 PM PST
All healthcare professionals are welcome to save!
Take 20% off Online Courses:
- Exam Prep Boot Camps
- Virtual Training Conferences
- CE Course Bundles
- Course Extensions
Click below to save
Set Yourself Up With Certification Success
Get exam-ready with confidence.
Course credits through AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACPE, ANCC, and CDR!
Full accreditation details are available on the registration page
Our CDCES Boot Camp Online Prep Bundle is a comprehensive, high-impact program built specifically for healthcare professionals preparing for the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) exam who want to level up their clinical knowledge and skills.
Starting at $449 | Sale Price $359.20
This evidence-based study bundle is a comprehensive BC-ADM Boot Camp designed for advanced-level healthcare professionals preparing for the Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM) exam and will also provide you with state-of-the-art information to level up your clinical practice.
Starting at $459 | Sale Price $367.20
What's Included?
CDCES Boot Camp
- 30+ expert-led courses from the fundamentals to the ADA standards, to test strategies and exam mastery! Includes Levels 1, 2 and 3.
- 50+ CE credits (AMA PRA Category 1™, ACPE, ANCC, CDR accredited). IN
- 400+ practice questions to test your knowledge and build confidence
- Multiple learning formats: video presentations, audio podcasts, and downloadable handouts
- 1 full year of on-demand access to study at your own pace
BC-ADM Boot Camp
- 30+ expert-led courses covering advanced diabetes management, ADA standards, medication review, insulin calculations and tech topics! Includes advanced levels 2, 3, 4.
- 50+ CE credits (AMA PRA Category 1™, ACPE, ANCC, CDR accredited).
- 400+ practice questions to test your knowledge and build BC-ADM test confidence.
- Multiple learning formats: video presentations, audio podcasts, and downloadable handouts
- 1 full year of on-demand access to study at your own pace
Enroll Now for our
Virtual DiabetesEd Training Conference
Now Available On-Demand
Why Should I Attend?
Join national experts including Dr. Diana Isaacs (Cleveland Clinic), Beverly Thomassian (30+ years of experience), and Christine Craig for high-impact, virtual learning—no travel required.
✔ Learn from National Experts — Anywhere
Get the same expert-level instruction you’d receive in person, delivered live to your home or office.
✔ 1-year Access
- Full session recordings with 1-year access if you can’t attend live
What's Included?
- 19.5 CEs from the 3-day interactive conference + 17+ bonus CEs from 11 on-demand courses. (30+ total CEs are AMA PRA Category 1™, ACPE, ANCC, CDR accredited)
- Less than $15 per credit!
- Expert-led sessions: ADA Standards, medications, insulin therapy, behavior change, CGM, medical nutrition therapy
- 1-year access to all recordings that you can watch on your schedule
- Study material for CDCES and BC-ADM exam prep
Starting at $479 | Sale Price $383.20
Type your paragraph here
