Leadership Message: Celebrating National Nurses Week 2025

Dear Colleagues,

As we celebrate National Nurses Week – May 6 through May 12 – we come together to honor the extraordinary nurses at UC Davis Health and around the world. This week is a dedicated time to reflect on the essential role nurses play in advancing health care and to express our deep appreciation for their contributions to patient care, safety, and healing.

We once again end the week on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, whose enduring legacy continues to inspire the nursing profession. Nightingale’s courage, innovation, and compassion laid the foundation for modern nursing. The image of her walking through the halls at night with her lamp has become a symbol of the quiet strength and steadfast commitment that nurses bring to their work every day.

At UC Davis Health, our nurses carry forward this legacy with pride. They lead with professionalism and empathy, whether at the bedside, in quality, research and education, or as innovators in clinical practice. They are essential to our mission and our success – delivering care that is not only clinically exceptional but also deeply human.

This week, we recognize and thank our nurses for the many roles they take on to serve our patients, colleagues, and communities. From providing care to driving quality improvement initiatives, our nurses demonstrate integrity, resilience, and unmatched professionalism.

Please join me in celebrating all the nurses of UC Davis Health. I encourage everyone to take a moment this week to acknowledge their personal impact and express appreciation to their colleagues. Their expertise and kindness make a lasting difference – every shift, every patient, every day.

Click here for a special video message to our amazing nurses.

With gratitude,

Christine Williams, MS, RN, CNS
Chief Nursing Executive
Chief Nursing Informatics Officer
UC Davis Health