Today is International Nurses Day. IND is observed around the world every year on May 12th, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. This day is honored to recognise the critical roles nurses play in providing healthcare around the world.
IND was first proposed by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) and has been celebrated since 1965. However, it wasn’t until 1974 when May 12th was chosen as the date to celebrate this day.
International Nurses Day also serves to acknowledge the dedication, hard work and impact on patient care that nurses have, but also the challenges they face and the importance of supporting their physical and mental health.
This day can be used to:
- Bring nurses together from different countries and cultures to share experiences
- Raise awareness of the challenging role nurses continue to face
- Highlight the importance of nursing and the vital role nurses play in society
- Celebrate the excellence and achievements of nursing staff in various settings
- Expressing gratitude to nurses for their commitment to patients and their families
- Promote positive changes to improve healthcare and support nurses in their role
Nursing is not just a vocation, it’s a highly skilled and safety-critical profession, requiring remarkable dedication and expertise. If you want to raise awareness or hold an event which promotes the difference nurses make in all our lives, download these resources from the Royal College of Nursing:
https://www.rcn.org.uk/Get-Involved/Campaign-with-us/Nurses-Day/Nurses-Day-resources