ENA Statement on End of COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration

ENA President Terry Foster thanks emergency nurses for their efforts throughout pandemic 

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (May 11, 2023) – The Emergency Nurses Association on Tuesday released the following statement from 2023 ENA President Terry Foster about the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency declaration ending:

“Today, the federal government’s COVID-19 Public Health Emergency declaration officially expired more than three years after it first was introduced. This comes days after the World Health Organization lifted its Public Health Emergency of International Concern declaration.

The timing is fitting for this symbolic moment to coincide with National Nurses Week because it provides another reminder of the amazing contributions emergency nurses – and all nurse specialties – made throughout the pandemic.

Emergency nurses were among the first to experience the unprecedented challenges COVID-19 would create for health care workers across the country and around the world.

With things at their darkest as COVID surged and our lives turned upside down by this virus, emergency nurses stood tall with their inspired commitment to care – but not without a heavy toll of stress, fatigue and emotional burn out that is still obvious today.

As we continue to cope with the pandemic’s aftermath, let’s all take a moment this nurse’s week to once again show our gratitude and support of emergency nurses and all nurses who do so much for their patients.

On behalf of ENA, I thank each of you for being inspirations to your patients, your peers and to the public throughout the pandemic and every day.”

- 2023 ENA President Terry Foster