Health Observance Dates

Health and Professional Observance Dates – 2021

January

• • • National Blood Donor Month

February

• • • American Heart Month
    • February 1 – 7 – Patient Recognition Week

March

• • • National Social Worker’s Month
    • March 10 – Registered Dietitian Nutrition Day
    • Mar 14 – 21 – Patient Safety Awareness Week
    • March 19 – Certified Nurses Day
    • Mar 30 – National Doctor’s Day

April

• • • Counseling Awareness Month
    • April 7 – World Health Day
    • April 16 – National Healthcare Decisions Day (with a week of outreach)
    • April 18 – 24 – National Volunteer Week
    • April 21 – Administrative Professionals Day

May

• • • Older Americans Month
    • Oncology Nursing Month
    • May 6 – 12 – Nurses Week
    • May 9 – 15 – National Nursing Home Week

June

• • • June 17 – 23 – National Nursing Assistant Week; with Thursday, June 17 as National Career Nursing Assistants’ Day
      Please note: Home Care Aide Week is November 7 – 13, occasionally there is confusion over these two observances.

July

August

• • • August 23 – 29 – Health Unit Coordinators Week

September

• • • Pain Awareness Month
    • Childhood Cancer Month

October

• • • Clergy and Chaplains Appreciation Month
    • National Physical Therapy Month
    • American Pharmacists Month
    • Breast Cancer Awareness Month
    • October 9 – World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
    • October 11 – 17 – National Case Management Week

November

• • • National Hospice/Palliative Care Month
    • National Family Caregivers Month
    • November 5 – National Volunteer Managers Day
    • November 7 – 13 –  Home Care Aide Week
    • November 11 – Veteran’s Day

December

• • • December 1 – World AIDS Day
    • December 5 – 11 – National Hand Washing Awareness Week

The Department of Health and Human Services posted a calendar of observance dates that is more comprehensive.