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National Nurses Week

By: Jolie Gerges

Starting on May 6th and ending on May 12th, National Nurses Week celebrates some of
the most important people in the health field: nurses!

What are the main responsibilities of nurses?

The responsibilities of nurses vary depending on the type of nurse, however, some common
responsibilities include: assessing, observing, and speaking to patients, recording details and symptoms,
preparing patients for exams and treatments, and much more.

How is nursing school different from medical school?

Depending on the program that an individual applies for, nursing school can vary from 12 weeks for a
Certified Nursing Assistant to 7 years for a Ph.D. in nursing. Medical school generally takes 8 years with
an addition of years of residency. Nursing education emphasizes patient care and the nursing
environment while medical school is more centered around the science of medicine and illnesses.

What’s the difference between a nurse and a doctor?

Although advanced practice nurses can diagnose illnesses and prescribe medications just as any doctor,
they incorporate a different care model than doctors. Physicians and physician assistants use the medical
model of care which emphasizes the diagnosis and treatment of symptoms. As a result, doctors focus
more on overcoming the health issue at hand and spend less time with the patient. On the other hand,
nurses practice a holistic model of care where patients are treated with individualized, personal care.
Thus, nurses spend more time with patients and are able to monitor changes in the patient’s condition.

Why are nurses so important?

Nurses serve as patient advocates and as the communication between doctors and patients. They are
better able to identify the patient’s needs and treatments as they spend more time and provide a more
individualized treatment than doctors. Benjamin Friedrich, an associate professor of strategy at the
Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and his colleague Martin B. Hackmann
conducted an experiment to see the effect of a shortage in nurses on patient health. They determined that
“Overall there was a 21% greater chance that a patient would be readmitted after the shortage began”
(Kim). With less nurses, patients are not monitored as carefully and conditions that could lead to
hospitalization are missed.

Facts about National Nurses Week

- In 1982, president Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation making May 6 “National Recognition
Day for Nurses”
- National Nurses Week is celebrated until May 12 which is Florence Nightingale’s birthday
- More than half of all health professional students are nursing students and there is still a shortage
of registered nurses
- Nursing has been the most trusted profession in the US for 19 years running
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Works Cited

“How Long Is Nursing School?” Nurse.Org, 23 July 2021,

nurse.org/education/how-long-is-nursing-school.

Kim, Meeri. “What Happens to Patient Care When There Are Not Enough Nurses?” Kellogg

Insight, 4 Apr. 2017,

insight.kellogg.northwestern.edu/article/what-happens-to-patient-care-when-there-are-not

-enough-nurses.

Marquette University Nursing. “Nursing School vs. Medical School: Making the Choice.” Direct

Entry MSN, 21 Mar. 2022,

mastersnursing.marquette.edu/blog/nursing-school-vs-medical-school.

Northeastern University Nursing. “4 Reasons to Become a Registered Nurse vs. a Doctor.”

Northeastern ABSN, 22 Sept. 2021, absn.northeastern.edu/blog/nurse-vs-a-doctor.

“What Is a Registered Nurse’s Responsibilities?” Regis College,

www.regiscollege.edu/blog/nursing/registered-nurse-responsibilities.

“10 Facts for National Nurses Week.” Medical Associates of Northwest Arkansas,

www.mana.md/tomorrow-is-national-nurses-day.

“Choosing Between Nursing School and Medical School.” NurseJournal, 27 Apr. 2022,

nursejournal.org/resources/choosing-nursing-school-or-medical-school.