Hello, and welcome to the May newsletter. Happy Nurses Month!

In this issue:

• National Nurses Month 2026
• Join the Well-Being Advisory Board
• Student Intern Recognition
• In the News
• Upcoming Events
• Nursing History

National Nurses Month 2026

Every May, we celebrate nurses like you who meet the health care needs of the residents and visitors of Florida. Whether you work in a school, hospital, helicopter, office, or at the capitol, you make it possible for others to live, work, and enjoy our beautiful state.

National Nurses Day occurs every May 6, which kicks off Nurses Week (5/6-5/12). We will deliver an email with a special message from Florida Center for Nursing Executive Director Rayna Letourneau, PhD, RN, FAAN, FAAN when the week begins.

At the Florida Center for Nursing, our support doesn’t begin or end with this month. We’re here as a resource year-round for nurses across the state, offering continuing education opportunities, the Frontline Nursing podcast, and more programs and initiatives. Visit flcenterfornursing.org or click the button below to explore the latest.

We hope you all have a wonderful Nurses Month!

The Florida Center for Nursing is now accepting applications for its Well-Being Advisory Board.

Well-Being Advisory Board members serve two-year terms. The board is expected to:

• recommend changes including strategies for implementation
• provide vision and strategy to increase the impact of FCN’s long-term efforts
• provide feedback and input to FCN staff

Membership is voluntary and open to nurses, other health care workers, consumers, representatives of business and industry, lawmakers, and educators residing in Florida, with a special need for representation from Southwest Florida. The application window closes on Friday, May 22 2026.

Visit flcntr.org/WAB-application or click the button below to apply.

Student Leader of the Year

On April 22, Florida Center for Nursing student assistant Jennie Norton was recognized at the 2026 USF Health Student Awards Ceremony as the Student Leader of the Year.

Jennie Norton with FCN Executive Director Rayna Letourneau, PhD, RN, FAAN

Jennie began as an FCN student intern in November 2025. She points to this experience as pivotal in her leadership journey.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to focus on nursing workforce and nursing education policy at the Florida Center for Nursing," Jennie said. "We have been analyzing different bills in the Florida House and Senate regarding various health education programs and other issues in the health care industry.”

Jennie graduates this month from the USF College of Nursing BSN program, along with fellow FCN student assistants Laura Melo and Leydis Velazquez. We thank them for their assistance and can't wait to see what's next!

Miami Today cited FCN research in the article "Florida’s nursing supply isn’t fully aligned with demand."

UCF's The Charge cited Florida Center for Nursing research in its article "'Caring to care': UCF's nursing program aims to treat RN shortage in Florida, nationwide."

FCN research was cited in the PR Newswire article "Rasmussen University Launches Weekend Practical Nursing (LPN) Program at Fort Myers Campus."

USA Today cited FCN research in the article "Top Benefits of Tallahassee Outpatient Surgery Center’s Total Rewards Package."

Upcoming Events

The Florida Center for Nursing hopes to see you at these upcoming events.

Upcoming FCN Events

Association of Practical Nurse Educators Business Meeting, May 1, Inverness, FL

• Florida Center for Nursing staff will attend and connect with practical nurse educators from across Florida for this business meeting

UF Health Jacksonville Annual Nursing Research Symposium, May 8, Jacksonville, FL

• Florida Center for Nursing Executive Director Rayna Letourneau, PhD, RN, FAAN, will attend and connect with fellow nurse researchers

Florida Center for Nursing Well-Being Advisory Board FY26 Q4 Meeting, May 14, Virtual

Recognition for nurses has shifted over time, beginning in October. It shifted to May in 1974, when the International Council of Nurses declared Florence Nightingale's birthday International Nurse Day (May 12).

In 1978, New Jersey Governor Brendon Byrne declared May 6, "Nurses Day," followed by the American Nurses Association (ANA) and, finally, President Ronald Reagan in 1982.

According to the ANA, in 1990, "the ANA Board of Directors expanded the recognition of nurses to a week-long celebration, declaring May 6 - 12, 1991, as National Nurses Week." The ANA made these dates permanent in 1993 and expanded the week to the entire month of May in 2020.

Thank you for reading! If you have feedback or comments, please email flcenterfornursing@usf.edu or click the button below.

Was this email forwarded to you? Visit flcntr.org/signup to subscribe.

About the Florida Center for Nursing

The Florida Center for Nursing is established to research and address issues of supply and demand for nursing, including issues of recruitment, retention, and utilization of nurse workforce resources. The vision of the FCN is to ensure that the health care needs of the residents and visitors of Florida are met by a competent and sufficient nursing workforce.

The FCN is proudly headquartered at the University of South Florida College of Nursing.

Click the button below to learn more about the Florida Center for Nursing.