New York State Department of Health Honors Nurses Across New York During National Nurses Week

Governor Hochul Issues Proclamation Honoring Nurses in New York State

Watch: Recognizing Nurses Working in New York State Department of Health Regional Offices

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 6, 2026) - The New York State Department of Health this week is honoring nurses across the state during National Nurses Week, beginning on May 6 and ending on May 12, which is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

Additionally, Governor Kathy Hochul has issued a proclamation recognizing the month of May as Nurses Month in New York State.

"From the birth of modern nursing in the 1800s, to caring for diphtheria patients in the very first hospitals run by the New York State Department of Health, to their unmatched commitment to patient health during the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses have always been essential," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "As we honor nurses throughout Nurses Week, the Department remains committed to meeting the evolving needs of nursing professionals in New York through innovative investments and pathways to education that will grow the workforce and expand nursing capacity across the state."

Throughout the week, nurses who work at the State Department of Health's regional offices were recognized across the Department's social media channels where they shared their individual experiences, the importance of nursing and why they love what they do.

Video: Recognizing Nurses Across New York State

There are more than 493,800 registered professional nurses in New York State, as well as more than 65,800 Licensed Practical Nurses and more than 50,900 Licensed Nurse Practitioners. Their expertise and proficiency contribute to ensuring the best possible outcomes for all patients.

Nurses are the backbone of patient-centered healthcare and their contributions have never been more critical. In honor of Nurses Week, the New York State Department of Health's Office of Health Care Workforce Innovation is highlighting its ongoing commitment to growing and sustaining the nursing workforce across the state.

Through the Health Education and Life Skills Program (HELP), the Department is supporting 21 workforce development programs statewide, 14 of which are directly focused on nursing education, spanning Licensed Practical Nurse, Associate and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs.

HELP-supported partners stretch from Long Island to the North Country, including community colleges, academic medical centers, hospital systems and Area Health Education Centers. Programs at institutions including Adirondack Community College, Niagara University, Pace University, Suffolk Community College, Rochester General Hospital and more are preparing the next generation of nurses to meet the needs of communities across the state.

The Nurses Across New York Loan Repayment Program, championed by Governor Hochul in the 2023 budget, is expanding nursing capacity in underserved areas through loan forgiveness for nurses who commit to practicing in communities with the greatest need.

In its first two rounds, the program has supported approximately 174 nurses in Round 1 and 277 nurses in Round 2, providing critical financial relief and helping to retain skilled nursing professionals across New York State. A third round of funding will be announced later this year. Additionally, the Nurses Across New York State Agency track, which extends this opportunity to nurses employed within state agencies and facilities under the jurisdiction of those agencies, will announce its first round of recipients this spring.

This work builds off the state's ongoing efforts to bolster New York's health workforce. In 2025, the Department convened its first Stakeholder Summit on New York State's Nursing Workforce, which brought together healthcare leaders to address staffing challenges and identify sustainable solutions and comprehensive workforce cultivation strategies.

This Nurses Week and all year long, the Department thanks the nurses serving New Yorkers every day and looks forward to building a foundation of professional nursing opportunities for the students and professionals who will carry that mission forward.