WGU honors night shift healthcare workers with 1,400 appreciation boxes nationwide
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - October 26, 2026 – Western Governors University (WGU), through its Michael O. Leavitt School of Health, is preparing 1,400 appreciation boxes for night shift healthcare workers at hospitals and healthcare facilities across the country. This will provide appreciation gifts for about 14,000 healthcare workers. The annual Night Shift Worker Campaign recognizes professionals who work an additional hour when clocks fall back on Nov. 1.
Volunteers across the United States are assembling and delivering the boxes ahead of the time change. The campaign brings together university leaders, faculty, staff, alumni and students to thank the people who care for patients overnight.
“When clocks fall back, most of us gain an extra hour of rest. Night shift nurses and other healthcare professionals spend that hour caring for patients,” said Ryan Gates, executive dean and senior vice president of WGU’s Leavitt School of Health. “These appreciation boxes are a small way to thank them for the work they do every night. Many are also balancing jobs, families and their own education. We want them to know their dedication is seen and valued.”
Launched in Indiana in 2013, the campaign has grown into a nationwide effort. Last year, WGU distributed 1,350 appreciation packages designed to serve approximately 13,500 workers. This year’s campaign continues that effort through packing events at WGU Clinical Learning and Simulation Centers and university offices, with regional teams coordinating deliveries to local healthcare facilities.
Each box contains items such as compression socks, bandage scissors, penlights, markers, pens and mints. The boxes are intended to be shared by overnight teams, including nurses, nursing assistants, pharmacy staff and other healthcare professionals.
The campaign also recognizes the role these workers play in preparing the next generation of caregivers. Alongside their patient care responsibilities, many mentor nursing students during clinical placements, helping them build the skills and confidence they need to enter the profession.
“Our healthcare partners do more than care for their communities. They help educate the nurses who will serve those communities in the years ahead,” Gates said. “Supporting these professionals and helping working adults advance their education are both essential to building a strong healthcare workforce.”
For night shift workers, earning a degree often means fitting coursework around overnight shifts, family responsibilities and sleep. WGU helps make that next step more accessible through its Night Shift Worker scholarship, valued at up to $4,000 for eligible students enrolling in programs across its schools of Health, Technology, Business and Education.
The scholarship is available to eligible students entering select WGU programs including RN-to-BSN and RN-to-MSN programs. The scholarship helps working adults build on their experience and prepare for new career opportunities.
