02/01/2026
February 2026 NFK President's Message
February has arrived! Bring on the LOVE (and chocolate). It's the second month of the year, the only month without a single full moon, has a leap day in it, is symbolized by the Aquarius and Pisces zodiac signs, has birth flowers of the violet, primrose and the iris, and the month that is often misspelled and mispronounced. It gives us the birthstone Amethyst, which symbolizes piety, humility, spiritual-wisdom, and sincerity.
Those four words hold different meanings for everyone, but here is how I sum them up for February in 2026. Piety relates to acts of kindness, ethical living, and showing love through consistent and heartfelt actions. Humility can lead us to greater personal growth and stronger leadership through being open to learning and better collaboration with others. Spiritual wisdom is distinct from world knowledge and is characterized by purity, peace and love, and applying these to everyday situations. Sincerity is aligning your words and actions by keeping promises, practicing active listening, being genuine and present, focusing on a genuine connection, and performing good deeds without expecting rewards.
These attributes of moral character transform our role of professional nurse into providing holistic, patient-centered care, enhance our resilience against burnout, improve our patient outcomes and help foster ethical practice. Through these virtues we treat more than just physical illness. We serve as a source of strength for those that rely on us, by treating the mind, body and spirit, thus giving purpose and meaning to our work. As nurses, we navigate many complex ethical situations, sometimes daily, and we do it with professionalism, love, and compassion. For myself, as a nurse I find joy in serving others. I practice continuous self-reflection and believe that we must know our own limitations of knowledge and listen to our patient's perspectives too. This is a sign of strength, not weakness. Upon this, it's important to be genuine and honest when interacting with our patients and adhere to ethical standards, and truly make our patient feel cared for.
On another note, February has some great things to give recognition to, such as, American Heart Month, Black History Month, and Turner Syndrome Awareness Month, all while observing the Season of Nonviolence from January 30th - April. During February we like to recognize specific days. The second Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday, and the third Monday is Presidents Day. Fixed dates for recognition are February 1st for National Freedom Day, February 2nd is Groundhog Day and of course, my favorite National Tator Tot Day. On February 3rd we recognize the Anniversary of The Day the Music Died, February 4th as World Cancer Day, and in the states of California and Missouri, Rosa Parks Day is recognized.
February 6th is International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Ge***al Mutilation, and February 12th is International Women's Day, Lincoln's Birthday, and the National Freedom to Marry Day. Black Love Day falls on February 13th and then Valentine's Day on the 14th. One of my favorites is February 17th, which is Random Acts of Kindness Day. February 20th is World Day of Social Justice, and the last Friday in February is International Stand Up to Bullying Day. Last, but not least, we can't forget February 23rd as National Banana Bread Day, and February 29th as National Frog Legs Day. Whew, so many holidays to recognize and celebrate in February, so pick your favorites and go full force!
In closing, I would like to give a reminder that nurses are the largest segment of the healthcare workforce and voted as the most trusted profession again this year! We hold a wealth of Power and Influence. Our roles are critical when it comes to not only providing patient care, but to identifying and improving our health and social care systems and by taking the lead in policy reforms. We must continue to be advocates for our most vulnerable and be proactive against challenges we face that perpetuate health inequalities and inequities. We must not only stay engaged but continue our efforts to get others engaged by breaking down the barriers, whether it is through increasing nurses' political interests, gaining more active participation, or by increasing nurses' political knowledge. We are all life-long learners.
I will end with something from the ANA. The American Nurses Association (ANA) has designated 2026 as "This Year of The Power of Nurses," marking its 130th anniversary. This theme celebrates the critical role, influence, and contributions of nurses in transforming, inspiring, and innovating within the healthcare landscape."
Last, it's important that nurses use their power to maximize the impact on the situations and unrest that we face in today's world. I ask that you recognize your potential, your impact on justice, and hold true to the virtues mentioned above!
Annette Cannon, NFK President
