38 Songs for Nurses, for Nurses Week, a Long Shift or a Thank-You

What is a good song for nurses?

To thank a nurse, "Wind Beneath My Wings" by Bette Midler and "Hero" by Mariah Carey are the classic choices, and "Bridge Over Troubled Water" describes what a good nurse does. For motivation before a shift, "Girl on Fire" by Alicia Keys and "Rise Up" by Andra Day are favorites. And every nurse knows "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees, whose tempo is used to teach the rhythm of CPR.

Thank-you songs for nurses

1. "Wind Beneath My Wings", Bette Midler: for the one who carried you.
2. "Hero", Mariah Carey: about the strength inside.
3. "Bridge Over Troubled Water", Simon & Garfunkel: someone to lean on in the worst moments.
4. "Lean on Me", Bill Withers: a promise of support.
5. "Angels Among Us", Alabama: about the people who appear when you need them.
6. "You've Got a Friend", Carole King: a promise to be there.
7. "Count on Me", Bruno Mars: dependable to the core.
8. "Heroes", David Bowie: for everyday heroes.
9. "Holding Out for a Hero", Bonnie Tyler: an 80s anthem.
10. "Superwoman", Alicia Keys: for the women who do it all.
11. "Hall of Fame", The Script featuring will.i.am: for people who change lives.

Motivational songs for a long shift

12. "Girl on Fire", Alicia Keys: unstoppable energy.
13. "Rise Up", Andra Day: rising again and again.
14. "Fight Song", Rachel Platten: a small voice that gets loud.
15. "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)", Kelly Clarkson: coming back tougher.
16. "Unstoppable", Sia: confidence when you need it.
17. "Titanium", David Guetta featuring Sia: unbreakable.
18. "Eye of the Tiger", Survivor: for the start of a night shift.
19. "Don't Stop Believin'", Journey: for hour eleven.
20. "I'm Still Standing", Elton John: for the end of a twelve-hour shift.
21. "We Are the Champions", Queen: for the whole unit.
22. "Survivor", Destiny's Child: stronger than before.
23. "Happy", Pharrell Williams: for a good day on the floor.
24. "On Top of the World", Imagine Dragons: celebrating the wins.

Songs for the hard days

25. "How to Save a Life", The Fray: a song many nurses say they feel in their bones.
26. "Everybody Hurts", R.E.M.: comfort for anyone in pain.
27. "Fix You", Coldplay: comfort when nothing seems to work.
28. "Keep Holding On", Avril Lavigne: a promise to stand together.

Funny songs every nurse will recognize

29. "Stayin' Alive", Bee Gees: the tempo used to teach CPR compressions.
30. "Another One Bites the Dust", Queen: the dark-humor CPR alternative.
31. "No Scrubs", TLC: the obvious pun for anyone in scrubs.
32. "Bad Medicine", Bon Jovi: an 80s rock joke.
33. "Working for the Weekend", Loverboy: for anyone working this weekend.
34. "9 to 5", Dolly Parton: if only it were nine to five.
35. "Night Shift", Commodores: the title says it all.

Road songs for travel nurses

36. "I've Been Everywhere", Johnny Cash: the travel nurse anthem.
37. "Life Is a Highway", Tom Cochrane: between contracts.
38. "On the Road Again", Willie Nelson: off to the next assignment.

Songs about nurses

A few songs are actually about nurses: "The Nurse" by The White Stripes is a strange, haunting rock song, and "Nurse Rozetta" by Alice Cooper is a tongue-in-cheek shock-rock number. Most nurses prefer the thank-you and motivational songs above, but these make a fun trivia question at a unit party.

Songs for a retiring nurse

For a nurse retiring after decades of shifts, "I'm Still Standing", "Wind Beneath My Wings" and "Hall of Fame" fit the party. Our list of retirement songs has more ideas for the send-off.

Songs for Nurses Week

In the US, National Nurses Week runs from May 6 to May 12, ending on Florence Nightingale's birthday. For a celebration, play the thank-you songs during a staff breakfast and the motivational songs at the party. A shared playlist that the whole unit adds to is a simple, free gift.

Songs for a nursing school graduation or pinning ceremony

For a pinning ceremony, "Hall of Fame", "Rise Up" and "Hero" fit the moment, and "Unwritten" or "The Climb" work for the slideshow. More ideas are in our list of graduation songs.

How to thank a nurse who cared for your family

• Write a specific note: name the moment that mattered, not just "thank you".
• Thank the whole unit: nurses work as a team, so include everyone on the shift.
• Tell their manager: a written compliment can matter for their career.
• Send a song: one of the thank-you songs above, or one written just for them.

More ideas are in our list of thank-you songs.

A song written for a nurse

For a nurse who made a difference, a retiring nurse or a friend finishing nursing school, a personalized song can tell their story: their name, the shifts, the patients they helped and what they mean to the people around them. It plays from a link, so the whole team can share it.

How to create a song for a nurse

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: pop, country, rock, acoustic and more.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three moments or qualities you want to celebrate.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Thank a nurse with a song of their own: create a song and hear four previews for free.