Hospitals and clinics are recognizing nurses this week as professionals who make a difference each day by meeting the needs of their patients while striving to improve health care.

Since it's National Nurses' Week, many nurses in the area will be recognized for nursing practice, research, quality and education.

Pam Wold, a Registered Nurse at Luther Midelfort, told us there is still a need for nurses in many parts of the country.

She says the average age of a nurse is 47, and there is concern about whether there will be enough nurses to meet an increasing need for health care.