National School Nurse Day is celebrated each year on the Wednesday of National Nurses Week, which runs from May 6–12 in the United States. In 2026, National School Nurse Day falls on Wednesday, May 6.

What is National School Nurse Day?

National School Nurse Day is a dedicated day to recognize and honor school nurses for the critical role they play in keeping students healthy, safe, and ready to learn. It was first set aside in the early 1970s to help the public better understand how essential school nurses are in educational settings.

School nurses often manage everything from daily medications and chronic conditions to mental health concerns and emergency situations—often with very limited resources.

When is it each year?

  • National School Nurse Day is always:
    • During National Nurses Week (May 6–12)
* On the Wednesday of that week

Some upcoming dates:

YearDateDay of Week
2026May 6Wednesday
2027May 12Wednesday
2028May 10Wednesday
2029May 9Wednesday
2030May 8Wednesday
[7]

How people celebrate it

Schools and communities use the day to visibly thank their school nurses and highlight their impact. Common ideas include:

  • Thank-you cards or emails from students, parents, and staff
  • Morning announcements or a small recognition event at school
  • Social media shout-outs using hashtags like #NationalSchoolNurseDay
  • Small gifts or treats (flowers, snacks, or a group gift card)
  • Classroom activities that teach kids what school nurses do and basic first aid.

A simple example: a homeroom class might secretly plan a “thank-you walk‑in,” decorating the nurse’s office door with notes and posters, then stopping by together to say thanks in person.

Why it matters now

Recent years have highlighted how complex student health needs have become, from chronic conditions to mental health and post‑pandemic challenges. National School Nurse Day is a chance to push for better staffing, resources, and recognition for these frontline professionals in education.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.