Today is International Nurses Day, and this year, it feels especially important to celebrate. Nurses around the world are working tirelessly to keep our communities safe and healthy amid the pandemic—and many of them have gotten sick in the process. 

One of the best things we can do to support nurses is observing local stay-at-home and social-distancing guidance to minimize chances of getting the virus and spreading it to others. Beyond this, there are several things you can do to show nurses how much you care. 

  • Reach out: If you know a nurse or a nursing student, reach out to check on them. Don’t be shy about sharing your gratitude and be sure to ask them how they are doing. Many healthcare professionals are under a tremendous amount of stress. 
  • Make a donation: If you can, make a donation to a local healthcare charity. There are many local and national organizations supporting nurses by securing personal protective equipment and delivering meals. 
  • Organize your team: If you work at a company in a position to donate, check with your manager or HR rep about organizing a corporate gift to your local hospital. You could buy a shift dinner or send coffee for those working overnight. Be sure to call the hospital to organize the delivery beforehand.   
  • Develop a habit: Whether it’s making noise in the evenings alongside your neighbors, wearing blue, or sharing a post on social media, develop a gratitude habit to celebrate nurses and other frontline workers. 
  • Spend time reflecting: Devote a few minutes each day to think or journal about gratitude, and see how this helps your community at large. By pausing to reflect on all the things you have to be grateful about, your actions will become more generous and kind. You will also train your mind to see the good in challenging situations, and we can all agree that positivity is much needed right now. 

These are just a few things you can do to give back to the nurses supporting your community through this unprecedented time. And while this day is a good reminder to be grateful for nurses and other frontline workers, we should show our gratitude every day. Let us know how you are practicing gratitude in the comments below.