Nurses – THE Heartbeat of Healthcare

As a two-time cancer survivor – Thyroid and Prostate – I give thanks every day to the healthcare professionals who helped me through my cancer journeys and there is no one that deserves a greater shout out than Nurses – you are the heartbeat of healthcare. You are the ones who provide comfort, strength, and healing. And if there’s one concept that I love to share as a keynote speaker for Nurses Week, it’s the Gift of GAB – Goals, Attitude, and Behavior.

Let’s start with G for Goals. Have you ever asked yourself, What do I want to be famous for? I don’t mean viral TikTok famous (though if you can dance in scrubs, go for it!). I mean, what do you want to be known for in your workplace? Do you want to be the nurse who brings calm in the chaos, the one who listens when no one else does, the one who can insert an IV like a ninja? Whatever it is, define it, own it, and let that vision guide you.

Just like Howard Schultz had a clear vision when building Starbucks, you can have a clear vision of the nurse you want to be. When you focus on that, you bring purpose to your work—and purpose makes even the toughest shifts meaningful.

A clear goal energizes you. It gives you direction. It makes those long, back-to-back shifts feel just a little bit more purposeful. And when you hit those inevitable roadblocks, remembering your why – What You Want to be Famous For will help you push through.

So, as you celebrate Nurses Week, ask yourself: What do I want to be famous for? Then go be that person.

Cheers!

Conor Cunneen – IrishmanSpeaks. A Chicago based Irishman who gives thanks everyday for the wonderful support and help received during my cancer journeys. Having had a thyroidectomy and a prostatectomy, I now have an Irish condition knows as there’s not much left-o-me!!

Conor presenting at The Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) Convention

Overview of Nurses Week

National Nurses Week is an annual celebration in the United States that honors the invaluable contributions of nurses to healthcare. It takes place from May 6 to May 12, ending on Florence Nightingale’s birthday, who is widely considered the founder of modern nursing.

History of Nurses Week

• 1953: Dorothy Sutherland, an official with the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, proposed a “Nurse Day” to President Eisenhower, but no official action was taken.
• 1974: The International Council of Nurses (ICN) declared May 12 (Florence Nightingale’s birthday) as International Nurses Day.
• 1982: President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation designating May 6 as National Nurses Day.
• 1990: The American Nurses Association (ANA) expanded the recognition to a full week, officially establishing National Nurses Week.
• 1993: The ANA designated May 6-12 as the permanent dates for Nurses Week.