Annually, National Nurses Week begins on May 6, marked as RN Recognition Day, and ends on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, founder of nursing as a modern profession. During this week, nurses in Plattsburgh, New York and the surrounding area will be invited to a special program entitled "A Mission to Heal" with guest speaker COL Anthony Pasqualone, A.P.R.N., B.C. COL Pasqualone will speak about his time spent recently in Iraq as a Nurse Practitioner with the 399^{th Support Hospital out of Massachusetts. The program will be held in the Auditorium of the Stafford Center at Clinton Community College on May 9, 2008 from 12:00 to 1:00pm. This event is generously sponsored by U.S. Army Sgt. Donald McMillian and is free and open to the public.}

Mayor Donald M. Kasprzak has issued a City of Plattsburgh Proclamation, in recognition of National Nurses’ Week, and in honor of our local nurses, which will be displayed on Friday at CCC.

Traditionally, National Nurses Week is devoted to highlighting the diverse ways in which registered nurses, the largest health care profession, are working to improve health care. From bedside nursing in hospitals and long-term care facilities to the halls of research institutions, state legislatures, and Congress, the depth and breadth of the nursing profession is meeting the expanding health care needs of American society.