This year, National Nurses Week began with a proclamation by new city of Gainesville Mayor Lauren Poe on May 6 in the UF Health Shands Hospital (north campus) Atrium. Additionally, more than 100 of our nurses were recognized during the annual Nightingale Award Ceremony, celebrating excellence in nursing. Of our 2,900 UF Health Shands nurses, more than half hold a bachelor’s or higher degree in nursing; about 600 are senior nurses who have worked here for more than 15 years; and approximately 780 are certified nurses (158 were newly certified in 2015).