National Nurses Week: Honoring Our Favorite Pop Culture Practitioners

• National Nurses Week runs from May 6-12, and includes a variety of ways to honor nurses.
• This year’s theme is “Nurses Make the Difference.”
• As part of the celebration, Nursing CE Central shares its favorite nurses from the small screen

From sitcoms to dramas, nurses permeate pop culture. And as the American Nurses Association’s National Nurses Week begins, Nursing CE Central is calling attention to some of the more relatable nurses from the small screen. 

SitCom Nurses We Love

Carla Espinosa, “Scrubs”: Strong-willed with a heart of gold, Carla is the heartbeat of Sacred Heart Hospital. She holds the staff together, calls them out when needed, and wants nothing but the best for herself, her patients, and her coworkers. She is the strong, independent role model nurses and non-nurses alike can aspire to be.  

Ann Perkins, “Parks & Rec”: Ann is the strait-laced realist to Leslie Knope’s pie-in-the-sky optimism. They balance each other out as only best friends can, and Ann is always advocating for better health and wellness for Pawnee residents, spearheading wellness campaigns and other beneficial endeavors. (Sorry, Paunch Burger devotees.)  

Kitty Foreman, “That ’70s Show”: Always dishing out a dash of sarcasm with her care, Kitty is the comedic relief we all want when making that unwanted trip to the hospital. She cares for patients much the same way she cares for her children (and all of their friends) — with honesty, compassion, and a dose of harsh reality when needed. 

Terri Alden, “Three’s Company”: Initially introduced as a foil for Jack Tripper’s comedic antics, Terri softens as her time in the Three’s Company universe progresses, but her devotion to her career never wavers. She puts the same care into her work at the local hospital as she does in maintaining a home life with Jack and Janet. 

Laverne Roberts, “Scrubs”: A nurse who likely doesn’t get the credit she deserves (relatable, right?), Laverne is Carla’s No. 1 in the Sacred Heart nurse’s unit. She brings a take-no-prisoners approach to her interactions with the interns, but it’s clear it comes from a place of pride. Laverne wants the best for the patients and to work with the best doctors. And there’s nothing wrong with doing that in her unique and brazen style. 

Maj. Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan, “M*A*S*H*”: Never one to back down, Maj. Houlihan, of the Army Nurse Corps, takes her role as the chief nurse of the 4077th seriously (sometimes too seriously). Struggling with loneliness and addressing her emotions throughout the series, the tug-and-pull of balancing her career with her personal life (and feelings in general) translates well beyond the Korean War in which she serves.  

Honorable Mentions (outside of the sitcom universe): We would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge some of the other nurses who have stuck with us over the years: the Star Trek Universe’s Christine Chapel; Nurse Joy from “Poke’Mon”; and Greg Focker from “Meet the Parents” and “Meet the Fockers.” 

Origins of National Nurses Week

In honor of the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s mission to Crimea, the first National Nurse Week was celebrated Oct. 11-16, 1954, according to ANA. It would be another two decades until the International Council of Nurses established International Nurses Day on May 12 — Nightingale’s birthday. Also in 1974, the White House issued a proclamation for National Nurses Week. 

 In the late ’70s to early ’80s, local efforts were made to create Nurses Day on May 6, followed by ANA and Congress establishing an official acknowledgement of the recognition.  

 By the 1990s, ANA expanded Nurses Day into National Nurses Week. 

How you can Support National Nurses Week

This year’s National Nurses Week theme is “Nurses Make the Difference.” Healthcare workers and the public alike can celebrate these practitioners through support on social media (use the hashtag #ThankANurse when posting) or donations to the American Nurses Foundation. 

“We know that nurses have the power to create a better world and during Nurses Week, we recognize both the challenges nurses face and the power they possess,” said ANA Chief Nursing Officer Debbie Hatmaker, PhD, RN, FAAN, in a news release. “As an added challenge, I encourage everyone to keep the spirit of Nurses Week with them not only this May but all year long. Taking the time for gratitude, celebration, and recognition is something our nation’s nurses need now more than ever.”

In conjunction with the theme, ANA also created the Nurses Light Up the Sky campaign, in which landmarks nationwide will “light up” to illuminate “the spirit of nursing excellence.” Among the participating structures are Chicago’s Wrigley Building, Houston City Hall, and Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. 

The Bottom Line

While it’s fun to highlight fictional nurses who influenced us (or simply gave us a laugh) for National Nurses Week, it’s important to remember the theme of this year’s celebration — Nurses Make the Difference. From providing life-saving care to comforting patients in their time of need, the value of nurses can’t be understated. Consider joining in the celebration this week through using the #ThankANurse hashtag or participating in local events in your area.  

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