Minot Celebrates Nurse, Medical Technician Week 2016 Published May 10, 2016 By 5th Medical Group MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- In 1953, Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, proposed to President Eisenhower a celebration of Nurse's Day. Unfortunately, the recognition was never set in motion. Over many years, different organizations made attempts to establish an official time for recognizing nurses. In 1954, Nurse's Week was observed from Oct. 11-16. The timing was significant as this was a celebration concurrent with Florence Nightingale's 100th anniversary of her mission leading 38 volunteer nurses to care for British soldiers fighting the Crimean War. In 1982, President Reagan signed a proclamation for National Nurse's Day to be celebrated on May 6th. In 1990, the American Nursing Association board of directors expanded the celebration to one week. Thus, we now officially celebrate Nurses' Week from May 6th through May 12th. The Air Force Nurse Corps celebrates the hard work, dedication and sacrifices made by our nurses and medical technicians. Whether they work in a clinic, office or at the bedside, they are busy caring for the active duty military, retirees and their dependents, resulting in a fit to fight Air Force. We honor these professionals for their compassion, dedication and high quality health care they deliver. This year, we join the American Nurse Association and our fellow nurses across the nation in celebrating Nurse and Medical Technician week focusing on "Creating a Culture of Safety."