Nursing is a highly respected profession. Nurses perform care that includes both hard science and human insight 鈥� their presence is both authoritative and reassuring. But beyond the stethoscopes and charts we鈥檝e come to associate with nurses, there is a lot of rich history and surprising nursing facts you probably don鈥檛 know.

In celebration of nurses and all they do, we have compiled five interesting facts about these essential healthcare professionals. Whether you鈥檙e considering becoming a nurse or you鈥檙e just curious to know more about the field of nursing, here is some fascinating information to add to your knowledge bank.

Check out this infographic and then read more details about each nurse fact below.

Sources: , , , ,

1. Registered Nurses Outnumber Doctors 4-to-1

Here鈥檚 an interesting nurse statistic: According to the American Association of Colleges of
Nursing (AACN), there are more than
in the United States. The omnipresence of nurses in almost all healthcare settings makes them a familiar and reassuring sight for patients seeking care. (See below for how much patients trust nurses.) But there are many reasons for the need for so many nurses in healthcare.

In addition to the essential nurses in common facilities like hospitals, you can find nurses in many settings where there may not be a doctor at all: schools, long-term care residences, in-home care, and even private practice. (Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) at the nurse practitioner level are allowed to practice independently in some states, often performing the same function as a primary care physician themselves.)

2. Nurses Walk a Marathon a Week

Nursing is fantastic exercise! One study based out of the UK found that nurses , which translates to about 26.25 miles! Hospital nurses are constantly on the move, making rounds and responding to ongoing and often unpredictable circumstances.

For the busy nurse, this can be good news 鈥� you鈥檙e getting your exercise while you work, and a lot of it. Consider it a hidden perk of the job, since you鈥檙e benefiting your own health while you tend to the health of others.

3. The Symbol of Nursing Is an Oil Lamp

You might have heard of , arguably the most famous nurse in history and the founder of the nursing profession. But did you know she was called 鈥溾�� and was the inspiration for the iconic symbol of nursing, the oil lamp? During the Crimean War of the mid-1800s, Nightingale would tend to wounded soldiers and made her rounds with an oil lamp, hence the nickname.

Nightingale is particularly credited with creating standards for the conditions for care. She found the treatment setting conditions deplorable when she arrived in the medical tents during the war and transformed them into clean and efficient facilities. Nightingale鈥檚 legacy remains to this day, with care environment being one of the central purviews of the modern nurse.

4. One of the First Nurses Was a Saint

Nursing has its own patron saint! was beatified by Pope Benedict XIV in 1742, but he was caring for the sick in the 14th and 15th centuries. Camillus has an interesting history 鈥� he wasn鈥檛 always dedicated to the health of others, or even his own health. Before he found his calling, he was actually a bit of a troublemaker.

In his early adulthood, Camillus was a gambler and fighter and eventually lost everything he owned. But he changed his ways and went on to dedicate his life to the priesthood in the time of The Plague. He organized troops in Hungary and Croatia, caring for the sick and the communities ravaged by the illness.

5. Nursing is the 鈥淢ost Trusted鈥� Profession

According to the 2022 Gallup poll of honesty and ethical standards, nurses are by the public. In fact, nursing has topped the list every year since it was first included in the poll in 1999, with the exception of 2001, when firefighters deservedly earned the top trust rating in the year of 9/11.

Are we surprised that nurses are so universally trusted? Not at all. Nurses already have a reputation for empathy and compassion and are often the most familiar and consistent face during a patient鈥檚 treatment. The nurse-patient relationship deeply depends upon trust, and those who choose to become nurses are driven by the highest ethical standards and compassion.

Bonus Fact: May 6-12 Is National Nurses Week!

Nurses deserve our appreciation and admiration year-round, but they also have a week dedicated in their honor: National Nurses Week! This week of recognition is a great time to tell that nurse in your life 鈥� whether it鈥檚 the nurse at your regular physician鈥檚 office, a friend or family member, or even yourself 鈥� how much their important work means.

To nurses and aspiring nurses: Every week is Nurses Week at WCU! We鈥檙e dedicated to educating tomorrow鈥檚 nurses and recognizing the grit and determination that this vital profession requires 鈥� and we鈥檝e been doing it for over 110 years. Nurses are our heroes; we care because you care.

We invite you to explore our online nursing and campus nursing programs today, and get to know our vision for your future in healthcare.

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In nursing, we hear the word 鈥渃are鈥� a lot.

It鈥檚 the language we use to describe the profession. But what does it mean?

For nurses, care isn鈥檛 just that soft, fuzzy feeling of a hand on your shoulder or a kind word. It鈥檚 more than that. It鈥檚 the courage and grit to care when things get hard. It’s the stamina to keep caring when the odds are long. It鈥檚 the fortitude to make decisions and act when life hangs in the balance.

It takes a certain kind of person to do this work 鈥� and that’s because caring is a calling.

It鈥檚 caring when your shift feels endless鈥� when the ward is over capacity鈥� when your patient takes their fear out on you鈥� when the prognosis is bad. Nurses are leaders, teachers, and caregivers who act in the moment for the benefit of others. They show up and they keep up.

Let鈥檚 dispel the myth of nursing as a profession of the nurturer and embrace the nurse warrior, who cares deeply in the fight for life. Let鈥檚 take a moment to appreciate what the profession of nursing entails and why nurses are essential to the health and well-being of our society at large.

Healthcare Isn鈥檛 a System 鈥� It鈥檚 a Collective

Those of us inside the healthcare 鈥渟ystem鈥� know that it鈥檚 a misnomer. 鈥淪ystem鈥� is a reductive term for something that is much more than that. Care comes from the people, not the system, and the people of healthcare are stronger, wiser, and more dedicated than their organizational infrastructure.

Healthcare is a team sport 鈥� a collaborative effort dedicated to the relentless pursuit of health and life. It鈥檚 check-you-chart, check-your-morale, check-on-your-teammates work where the sum is greater than its parts. Nurses work in lockstep with each other and with the entirety of a healthcare facility鈥檚 personnel to save lives.

Each patient participates in their own health, too, and the connective tissue between a patient and their treatment is often their nurse. After all, nurses make up the , and they鈥檙e the primary providers of patient care in hospitals, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Nurses are synapses of communication between patients and their doctors, keeping both sides informed, empowered, and on the right path to health.

Nursing Roles: Touching All Aspects of Life

There鈥檚 no overestimating the impact of nurses throughout our lives, including during many milestones. Nurses work with every age population, from neonatal to hospice. They help bring us into the world, and they help ease us out of it. They take our vitals and ask us about our medical histories without judgment. They participate in some of our most critical medical moments. Even when we don鈥檛 know them by name, we .

The settings in which nurses work are as varied as their skill set. Nurses work in hospitals, in homes, in schools, and in prisons.^1,2 They can specialize in family medicine, geriatric care, pediatrics, women鈥檚 health, and more. They can conduct research, teach in universities, and affect healthcare policy. And all of that is by no means a comprehensive inventory of the nursing purview.

When it comes to care, nurses strike just the right balance between science-based decisions with human compassion. Becoming a nurse means relating to a patient in more ways, perhaps, than any other profession.

An Education That Lays the Foundation for Quality Care

To say a nursing education is a well-rounded education is a gross understatement. Nurses at the undergraduate level study general education topics as well as a series of demanding subjects that require a high level of versatility. (To get a sense of their diversity in education, check out WCU鈥檚 )

Nurses who pursue advanced degrees face additional rigor, and those who pursue the highest levels of education and specialties must develop fluency in complex disciplines.

Nursing school at all levels is for students with an appetite for challenge. It鈥檚 an education that is equal parts academic and hands-on learning, and it trains both your intellectual and muscle memories for work that requires all-in commitment. This is not a desk job, and even when you are doing paperwork, the stakes remain high.

As a nursing student, you鈥檒l study the sciences and fundamentals specific to nursing, but you will also learn about communication, public health, research, mental health, family and community dynamics, and more.

You鈥檒l do homework and lab work. You鈥檒l participate in simulations and clinical experiences. You鈥檒l graduate with knowledge and skills you鈥檒l need to make a difference for those who will need you.

国产主播鈥檚 Devotion to Future Nurses

At WCU, we are continuously inspired by the nurses of tomorrow that we see in our classrooms today. We鈥檙e invested in each and every student鈥檚 success, from the first day of their program until well beyond graduation.

We鈥檙e focused on our students getting to where they need to go to create the impact they want to in the world. At WCU, that means giving you a quality education and helping you achieve your goals to embark on the exciting, intense, challenging, and deeply rewarding work of a nurse.

Getting Started on Your Nursing Education Journey

Whether you鈥檙e ready to start working toward your goal of becoming a nurse or you want to build on your skill set as an existing nurse, we have the curriculum and learning resources you need. Explore our online and campus nursing programs, or fill out the form on this page to request more information.

We want to help you achieve your goals so you can make a bigger impact!

Citations:

¹ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses, 鈥�,鈥� Updated Sept. 8, 2022

² International Association of Forensic Nurses, 鈥�,鈥� Accessed April 27, 2023

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National Nurses Week takes place from May 6 to May 12. It鈥檚 a time that鈥檚 meant to commemorate the amazing nurses who are working to make the world a better place 鈥� one patient at the time.

The International Council of Nurses has set this year鈥檚 theme as 鈥�,鈥� so we want to particularly thank nursing teachers, leaders, and alumni helping to give nurses a voice.

If you鈥檙e not sure how you鈥檙e going to celebrate Nurses Week this year, here are five ideas that can help you get started:

1. Do something for the nurses in your life.
   Most of us know a nurse鈥攚hether it鈥檚 a close friend, a roommate, or a family member. It doesn鈥檛 take lavish gifts to show them how grateful we are of their dedication. Think about something you could do for them that would make them feel appreciated. Some ideas include making them breakfast, buying them their favorite coffee drink, or writing them a thoughtful note.
2. Find some local Nurses Week deals.
   Many brands and organizations celebrate National Nurses Week by offering deals and discounts to licensed nurses. For example, in past years to healthcare workers for Nurses Day. Keep an eye out for emails or posters announcing upcoming deals, or do a quick search online.
3. Help spread the word.
   While nurses and nursing school students might be aware of National Nurses Week, not everyone might know of the holiday. Share a Nurses Week post on social media to remind everyone to say thank you to the nurses in their lives.

4. Make a donation in honor of National Nurses Week.
   Numerous nonprofit organizations are working to make the world a healthier place. For example, provide humanitarian medical assistance in vulnerable countries or areas. Research hospitals such as also accept donations.

5. Turn your passions into a career.
   The world needs dedicated nurses. If you have a passion for helping others, studying to become a nurse is the best way to make a difference. If you鈥檙e already studying nursing 鈥� whether at WCU or at another school 鈥� this is the perfect week to remember why you chose this path.

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National Nurses Week takes place every year between May 6 and May 12 鈥� giving us a time to recognize the nurses in our lives and show our gratitude for the work they do to make the world a healthier place. Keep reading to learn more about the history of Nurses Week and why we dedicate this time to celebrating these amazing healthcare workers.

The History of Nurses Week

The history of Nurses Week goes back all the way to the 1950s when government officials began to consider creating a holiday to celebrate nurses鈥� contribution, even going as far as sponsoring a bill in 1955. However, nothing came of their actions until the mid-1970s.

In 1974 the International Council of Nurses (ICN) proclaimed that May 12 鈥� Florence Nightingale鈥檚 birthday 鈥� would be International Nurse Day. That might have been all the motivation needed because just a month later the White House designated a week as National Nurse Week.

It wasn鈥檛 until 1993, however, that the ANA Board of Directors designated the week between May 6 (National Recognition Day for Nurses) and May 12 (International Nurse Day) as the permanent dates to observe National Nurses Week.

Since then, individuals and organization have been finding new ways to recognize nurses during this time.

厂辞耻谤肠别:听

Why We Celebrate National Nurses Week

It鈥檚 no secret that nurses play a key role in care for patients 鈥� but very few of us realize just how essential they are for our healthcare system. Here are a few statistics that put in perspective just how important nurses are:

• 聽With nearly 3 million registered nurses, RNs are one of the largest occupations in the United States.¹
• 鈥� Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) perform many of the same services as physicians. ²
• Just like physicians, some APRNs, especially those who work in critical care or those who deliver babies, may also need to be on call. ²
• Nurses are the primary providers of hospital patient care and deliver most of the nation鈥檚 long-term care.³

WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment. WCU Distance education programs are delivered out of the California and Texas campuses and may not be available to residents in all states. Practice Experience is required in order to graduate from the RN to BSN, RN to MSN, MSN, DNP degree and Post-Master’s certificate programs. Due to the current COVID-19 outbreak, the University has moved some of the on-ground courses into a distance education modality. However, as soon as the COVID-19 circumstances change, students will be expected to return聽on campus to complete their program onsite in the regular learning modality as approved by WSCUC and outlined in the university catalog.

¹ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

^2听U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics聽

^3听American Association of Colleges of Nursing

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