It may have to do simply with the context in which engineers work. Nurses week is popular and recognized, so what is different about nursing and engineering?
According to a quick google search, there are about 2x as many nurses in the US than there are engineers, which could be part of the reason.
But I can't help but think it has something to do with the nature of work either. Anyone who has ever been sick and gone to the doctor or hospital has likely been assisted by one or many nurses. We tend to remember those who help us when we are ill, especially if they have a very warm "bedside manner". There is a human element to nursing that one might argue is absent in a lot of work the public sees via engineering. You could even argue that this is the point of being an engineer: being able to create an environment that the public specifically does NOT need to take special notice of. If you don't notice anything on the street during your commute, or think twice after filling a glass of water or flushing your toilet, or driving over a bridge, then I think it means we are doing our jobs correctly.
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Christopher Seigel P.E., M.ASCE
Civil Engineer
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