To ensure that every nurse receives the recognition they deserve at the end of their journey, preserving the legacy of nursing by upholding traditions of honor, respect, and gratitude. The Nurse Honor Guard seeks to inspire future generations by highlighting the profound impact of nurses on healthcare and society.

Nurse Honor Guard tribute is a ceremony dedicated to honoring the life and service of a deceased nurse. This tribute is typically performed by a group of nurses or healthcare professionals to acknowledge the contributions of the nurse or nursing student to the profession and the community. The ceremony may include the following elements:

1. A formal procession: Nurses in uniform often perform a ceremonial procession to mark the significance of the occasion.
2. Reading of the nurse’s accomplishments: Brief remarks or a eulogy recognizing the individual’s work and contributions to nursing.
3. Presenting the Nightingale lamp or other symbolic items: In some ceremonies, a Nightingale lamp or a symbolic item is presented to the family as a token of appreciation for the nurse’s service.
4. Release of Duty Tribute: A solemn and meaningful part of a Nurse Honor Guard Ceremony, symbolizing the end of a nurse’s service and their transition from earthly duties. It honors the nurse’s dedication, compassion, and commitment to the profession

The duration of a Nurse Honor Guard tribute can vary depending on the ceremony’s complexity and the specific traditions of the Honor Guard chapter, but it typically takes between 5 to 10 minutes. The ceremony is meant to be respectful, dignified, and fitting for the nurse’s dedication to their profession.

Anyone with a nursing background can volunteer for the Nurse Honor Guard, including:

• Active and retired nurses – RNs, LPNs, LVNs, and APRNs
• Student nurses
• Former nurses who want to honor their profession

Most Nurse Honor Guards are volunteer-based and welcome those passionate about honoring the service and dedication of fellow nurses who have passed away. If you’re interested, check out our Nurse Honor Guard chapter to learn more about our program!

We welcome all nurses and nursing students to join the Nurse Honor Guard. You do not need to be a member of HNA to join the Nurse Honor Guard.

The Nurse Honor Guard is an official charter of the National Nurses Honor Guard Coalition and is in partnership with Nurse Honor Guard of Southern California.

The Nurses Honor Guard began in 2003 by the Kansas State Nurses Association. The goal was to create an honor guard for nurses to recognize an individual’s career-long dedication to nursing and to pay respect at the end of a nurse’s life. The idea was based on a similar service to what the military, police, and firefighters perform for their fallen colleagues. For a long time, it was a service not offered anywhere else. Gradually nurses began to see this at conferences they attended, and a handful of groups started around the country. In 2011 one of those nurses attended a conference in Detroit, Michigan and brought the concept back to her Professional Practice group in Lansing, Michigan. Julia Godby Murray, RN saw her presentation and decided to share this practice all over the country. She slowly began reaching out to groups through social media. In 2023, she has organized over 250 local chapters and new groups are forming at a rapid rate.

(Name), we honor you this day and give you a white rose to symbolize our appreciation for being our colleague.

Ring /Chime
Ring Chime
Ring Chime

We officially release you of your nursing duties.

“Extinguish the Lamp”

A Nurse Honor Wall is a dedicated space created to pay tribute to nurses who have passed away, recognizing their lifelong commitment to the nursing profession and the care they provided to others. This wall serves as a place of remembrance, reflection, and gratitude—honoring the legacy, service, and sacrifice of our fellow nurses.

Each name placed on the wall represents a nurse who made a lasting impact on patients, families, and the healthcare community. Through this memorial, we ensure that their compassion, strength, and dedication are never forgotten. 

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“The ceremony provides a sense of closure and recognition for our fallen nurses. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on the Nurse Honor Guard.”

The Nurse Honor Guard would not be possible without the generous support of NCAL Kaiser Permanente Scholars Academy, who graciously donated Nightingale lamps, nursing caps, and capes. Their contribution ensures we can honor and celebrate the legacy of our fellow nurses with dignity and tradition.

Hmong Nurses Association is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and all donations and sponsorships to the Nurse Honor Guard help us honor and celebrate the legacy of our fellow nurses. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

To learn more about the Nurse Honor Guard service or to support our mission, please contact us at nurse.honorguard@outlook.com.