Celebrating Nurses’ Week, Florence Nightingale’s Birthday, and Cannabis Nursing
May marks a season of renewal—a time when flowers bloom, hope flourishes, and we celebrate those who nurture healing within our communities. At Holistic Caring & The Green Nurse and Bloom Hemp CBD, we dedicate this month to recognizing the invaluable contributions of ALL nurses everywhere. We also want to give a special shoutout to ALL Cannabis Nurses, who are leading the way by educating others about the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and the incredible healing potential of plant medicine.
Nurses: The Guardians of Compassion and Innovation
May 6–12 marks National Nurses Week, culminating on May 12th—Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Nurses Week is a time to acknowledge the extraordinary dedication, compassion, and innovation of nurses who serve in every corner of healthcare.
Nurses Week: Lighting the Way in Healthcare
Nurses are the heart and backbone of the health system, providing critical care and emotional support to patients and families. Today, nurses are leading the charge in integrative and cannabis medicine—bridging conventional care with holistic healing, advocating for patient-centered practice, and pioneering new modalities (American Nurses Association, 2023). Nurses have once again been named the most trusted profession in the United States, according to Gallup’s annual Honesty and Ethics poll—an honor they have held for 23 consecutive years (Saad, 2025).
Florence Nightingale: The Lady with the Lamp
Florence Nightingale (1820–1910), the founder of modern nursing, forever changed health care with her commitment to evidence-based practice, sanitation, and compassion. Her legacy inspires today’s nurses, especially those embracing plant medicine and cannabis nursing, to advocate for safer, more holistic patient care (History.com Editors, 2010).
Nurses Leading in Plant Medicine
Cannabis nursing is a new specialty born from the desire to combine scientific rigor with the art of compassionate healing. Nurses are educating patients, creating protocols for safe cannabinoid use, and advancing policy—breaking stigma and building community.
Personal Stories
This month, discover the inspiring journeys of our Cannabis Nursing Executives and team members as they share what led them to the fields of Nursing and Cannabis Nursing. Their dedication embodies the legacy of Florence Nightingale, paving the way for plant-based healing and empowering others through their work.
- Elisabeth Mack MBA, BSN, BA, RN – CEO Holistic Caring & The Green Nurse and Bloom Hemp CBD
Explore Elisabeth’s personal blog and her inspiring journey from becoming a nurse to transitioning into a cannabis nurse. - Sherri Mack BSN, RN – Chief Nursing Officer, The Green Nurse
Explore Sherri’s personal blog and her inspiring journey from becoming a nurse to transitioning into a cannabis nurse. - Laura Barrett MBA, BSN, RN – Nurse Executive, Ask Nurse Laura
Explore Laura’s personal blog and her inspiring journey from becoming a nurse to transitioning into a cannabis nurse.
Welcome to Cannabis Nursing Resources
Quick and Easy Articles to Whet Your Appetite
Our HC & GN Award-Winning Programs
- Cannabis Nurse Health Coach Certificate Program – The most in depth Nursing Program for 30 CEUs. This curriculum comes with a monthly mastermind to personalize and perfect your craft and opportunity. Our past decade in the Plant Medicine Arena has built and refined the systems you need based on our caring for over 6,000 patients.
- Professional Programs – for all health professionals, offering nurses CEUs.
- Patient Programs – for patients & new learners, offering nurses CEUs.
Our Learning Library at Holistic Caring & The Green Nurse – Free Online Learning Library
Award-Winning Podcast – The Green Nurse Podcast: Living Your Best Life and Clinical Conversations on our YouTube Channel
Join Our Free Network for all our paid programs and our free programs! This is where we host our award-winning podcast and all of our free events!
American Cannabis Nurses Association – Elisabeth and Sherri are members, with Elisabeth serving as Treasurer for four years, and Nurse Sherri currently serving her 2nd term on the Board of Directors. Sherri is Chair of the Membership Committee so please get involved! Visit our sponsor page for Holistic Caring & Green Nurse Programs and Bloom Hemp CBD on the ACNA website. We are proud to be showcased as two of the outstanding educator and Hemp CBD brands in the industry where we lead with quality, safety, and patient centered care.
HC & GN and Bloom Hemp are sponsors of ACNA – ACNA Sponsorship Page
HC & GN Educational Programs are featured at the Society of Cannabis Clinicians
Let Nurses Elisabeth or Sherri know if you have any questions, and welcome to Cannabis Nursing!
With you on the journey,
Elisabeth Mack MBA, BSN, BA, RN
CEO & Cofounder
Sherri Mack BSN, RN
CNO & Cofounder
References
- American Nurses Association. (2023, September 27). ANA officially recognizes cannabis nursing as a specialty nursing practice. https://www.nursingworld.org/news/news-releases/2023/ana-officially-recognizes-cannabis-nursing-as-a-specialty-nursing-practice/
- History.com Editors. (2010, May 5). Florence Nightingale. HISTORY. https://www.history.com/articles/florence-nightingale
- Saad, L. (2025, January 13). Americans’ ratings of U.S. professions stay historically low. Gallup. https://news.gallup.com/poll/655106/americans-ratings-professions-stay-historically-low.aspx
