Nurses honoring Nurses

What is the Nurse Honor Guard?

We are a volunteer group of Licensed Vocational Nurses and Registered Nurses with various levels of training and education that share in the collective experience of nursing.

It is an honor for us to stand in solidarity with our nursing peers. Nursing is a service profession that cannot be lived in isolation. Nurses rely on each other for the synergistic effect in our caregiving. It is appropriate that we honor our colleagues not only during their career, but also at the end of life’s journey.

The Nursing Honor Guard Ceremony

The Nightingale Tribute begins with a short synopsis of the nurse’s career. A creative reading follows the synopsis. White flowers are placed with the nurse after the reading.

The tribute takes approximately five-ten minutes and can be placed anywhere within the service appropriate to the traditions and beliefs of the recipient’s faith.

Volunteer- Driven

Nurses are able to embrace the dignity and respect for their profession with this work. The services the Nurse Honor Guard provides helps families heal after the loss of their loved one. Since nurses are natural healers, the Nurse Honor Guard adds another opportunity to continue doing what they love to do and that is to heal.

They sacrifice time away from their families, friends, and personal lives to make sure your family never grieves alone.

History of the Nurse Honor Guard

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.

Tribute Demonstration

By Your Side

Wherever, Whenever

Our Mission & Vision

Once a nurse, always a nurse.

The mission of the the SoCal Nurse Honor Guard is to deliver ceremonial honors, inspire our colleagues, and represent the intricately weaved community of nurses around the world.

The vision of the SoCal Nurse Honor Guard is to be a ceremonial unit honoring our nursing colleagues as well as embodying personal and professional excellence.

In-person services

Our volunteers are located throughout Ventura, Los Angeles & Orange counties.

Outside our area? Below are several California groups, generally organized by County to contact. If you cannot find what you are looking for we can help you locate the right regional group.

For national inquiries please contact the National Nurse Honor Guard.

  • May 1, 2024

    We had the privilege to conduct the Nurse Honor Guard ceremony for Kimberly Lane, RN from Woodland Hills, Kaiser Permanente. She was well respected by her peers, staff, and providers. Tributes came from so many people who cared so much about her. The attendance to honor her at Woodland Hills Medical Center was very large and beautiful.

  • April 12, 2024

    We had the honor of performing the Nightngale Tribute for Patricia Read Adams, RN. Her grandaughter sat in the front row and recited “grandma was there” in the response.

  • 2023 ENA Conference

    On September 20th, the SoCal Nurse Honor Guard performed the Nightingale Tribute for all the nurses who so bravely worked on the front lines during the pandemic and lost their lives.

  • December 26, 2021

    Our first tribute in Oxnard

  • May 15-16, 2024

    Dawn attends the National Conference to learn and connect with peers.

  • June 30, 2024

    It was our honor and privilege to perform the Nurse Honor Guard ceremony for Nellie Banks, LVN on 6/30/24.

    Thank you to Lised, Christine, Yolanda and Denise for participating in this ceremony.

    The family and friends were touched and so grateful!

  • July 9, 2024

    It was an honor to serve at Arwin Kalaw RN celebration of his life as a nurse.

    Thank you so much to Rosemary Castillo and Tritia Murillo for helping lead this Nurse Honor Guard.

    The family and friends were very appreciative that Arwin was honored in this way.

  • August 29, 2024

    It was an honor to serve at Greg Luther, RN celebration of his life as a nurse. 

    Thank you so much to for Elizabeth Rodriguez, Yolanda Guild,  Rosemary Castillo, Zaida Denise Forester, Russell Lobue, Tonya Santiago, Megan Umrarong, and Logan Bonebrake-Barriger for helping me lead this beautiful Nurse Honor Guard.

    The family and friends were very appreciative that Greg was honored in this way. I am thankful every time the Nurse Honor Guard ceremony is conducted.

     Thank you all for being a vital part of providing tribute to our colleagues.

  • November 22, 2024

    Thank you to the entire Nursing Honor Guard for taking  time to help us plan & honor our nursing friend and colleague Sandra Schefheitle, BSN, RN. This was such a beautiful tribute. This tribute meant the world to her girls & it was beautiful way for us to honor our friend.

  • January 27, 2025

    The Nightingale Association in Riverside invited Dawn to an event, during which they generously donated $100 to support our website! Thank you for your support!