It’s fair to say every one of us at some point in our life has relied on the skilled care of a nurse — and probably will continue to benefit from their compassion and training, especially in these pandemic times.

These health care workers, both female and male, deserve to be recognized for their devotion and commitment to tending their patients in hospitals and health care facilities across the country.

So Thursday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a proclamation marking May 6 through 12 as Nurses Week.

Each year — according to the American Nurses Association website at www.nursingworld.org — National Nurses Week begins on May 6 and ends May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, founder of modern nursing.

The ANA notes that the first National Nurses Week was celebrated in 1954, on the 100th anniversary of Nightingale’s famous mission to the Crimea, when she brought a team of volunteer nurses to care for the British soldiers fighting Russians in the Crimean War.

However, it wasn’t until 1982 that President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation declaring May 6 as National Nurses Day, thereby recognizing nurses’ efforts on a national level, according to the ANA. In 1990, the ANA authorized an expansion of the recognition, with the first National Nurses Week being celebrated from May 6 to 12 in 1991.

In 1998, May 8 was designated as National Student Nurses Day and in 2003, the Wednesday within National Nurses Week became National School Nurse Day .

The pandemic has only emphasized how essential nurses are in their communities.

“Nurses play a crucial role in our health care system, and they have selflessly served on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic for over a year,” Whitmer said. “In times of crisis or calm, nurses consistently provide high-quality, personalized care and support other health care workers, routinely going above and beyond for their patients. The best way we can say thank you to our nurses is by masking up, washing our hands, social distancing and getting our vaccines as soon as possible.”

Whitmer noted in her proclamation that “this year is internationally recognized as ‘Year of the Nurse — 2021: Excel, Lead, Innovate.'”

She added in the proclamation, “We owe gratitude to our nursing caregivers and special recognition to the many who work tirelessly to improve and maintain physical and mental health.”

Lawrence Roehrig, AFSCME Council 25 president, called on the public to help nurses in the fight against COVID-19.

“Nurses in general and AFSCME nurses, in particular, have been and continue to be Michigan’s warriors and superheroes at the frontlines during this pandemic. Their professional, ‘never quit’ attitudes in the face of this tremendous challenge have saved us in this crisis,” Roehrig said. “They continue to risk their own lives, in spite of so many who have already lost their own. These superheroes battle COVID in spite of the risks to themselves and their families. They constantly and tirelessly work countless hours to care for the most vulnerable loved ones we all share. A simple ‘thank you’ does not do any of these health care professionals justice. We MUST honor their sacrifices by being vaccinated as soon as possible. Together, we can make their sacrifice worthwhile. Getting ‘stuck’ by a nurse is not a bad thing in a pandemic. It will save countless lives.”

As of April, Michigan had 22,860 licensed practical nurses, or LPNs, and 164,493 registered nurses, or RNs.