Today marks the first day of Nurses Month, 2023 — an annual commitment established by the  American Nurses Association (ANA) and publicly supported by provider organizations and health systems in the United States and abroad. This year, ANA selected the theme "Nurses Make a Difference" as its overarching banner, with an emphasis on four key themes:

1. Self-care

2. Recognition of innovation

3. Professional development

4. Community engagement

This celebration of the contributions made by nurses at all levels comes at a time when C-suite leaders continue to work very hard to stabilize their nursing workforce. 

Advisory Board has been vigilant in providing members with up-to-date information on the clinical workforce landscape as well as solutions sets to reverse untenable turnover. While organizations continue to lean in to confronting workforce stabilization, those efforts should not overshadow the incredible achievements that nurses and nursing have accomplished.  Throughout the entire month of May, we will be highlighting this work — making a difference in nursing and healthcare for the patients and families that are served in our communities.

Nurses Month kicks off with a call for optimal mental health and emotional well-being for RNs. Amid unresolved burnout levels, escalating reports of abuse and violence directed at staff, and RNs themselves calling for work/life balance in the post-COVID world, organizations are partnering with their nursing colleagues to find meaningful solutions that will make a difference.

We've put together resources to help healthcare leaders honor the nurses in their organization by creating an environment that encourages nurses to prioritize their well-being.

• 'Moral Resilience Rounds': Johns Hopkins' secret to help staff navigate moral distress
• How Parkview created a holistic response team to improve workforce well-being
•  Global Edition: Rebuild the Foundation for a Resilient Workforce
• How to be a less-stressed leader
• Help clinicians prioritize wellness by integrating it into their workflow
• How Advocate Children's 'bounce back kits' improve nurse resilience
• Novant Health-NHRMC’s Resiliency Governance Council
• The four foundational cracks that are undermining your nurses’ resilience
• Three strategies to build baseline emotional support
• Compassion Fatigue Assessment