International Nurses Day

Held on : 12th May

A Nurse is a healthcare professional who is responsible for treatment, safety and recovery of acutely or chronically ill individuals. Nurse all over the world are hard-workers, sympathetic, passionate, kind and it is because of their role in improving a patient's health that they are respected and admired by all. Nurses are an indispensable part of healthcare system as they provide comfort and advice to patients when they need it the most. Nurses are truly the backbone of a healthcare system. It was Florence Nightingale, an English nurse who laid the foundation of professional Nursing. International Nurses Day marks the birth date of Florence Nightingale. The day is a tribute to her hard work, innovation and dedication towards the profession of Nursing. International Nurses Day is also a day to remember the services of a Nurse towards humanity and an occasion to discover about the vocation of Nurses and their workplaces.

History

In 1953 Dorothy Sutherland, an official with the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, had proposed that then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaim a "Nurses Day," but he did not approve it. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation  of more than 120 national nurses associations. It was founded in 1899 and was the first international organization for health care professionals. It was in 1974 that ICN took the decision to publicly declare 12th May as International Nurse Day. The date 12th May was chosen as it is the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, who is widely considered the founder of modern Nursing. The International Council For Nurses (ICN) in America was already observing the day in 1965, although it was not formally known by the US Government until 1974. The event marks the end of Nurses Week which generally starts on the 6th and allows large hospitals, nursing homes, day care centres, etc to plan in many profile raising events. It also provides an opportunity celebrate other branches of Nursing.

Events

• The International Council of Nurses commemorates this important day each year with the production and distribution of the International Nurses' Day (IND) Kit. The kit contains educational and public information materials, for use by nurses everywhere.

• Each year on 12 May service is held in Westminster Abbey in London. During the Service, a symbolic Lamp is taken from the Nurses' Chapel in the Abbey and handed from one nurse to another, thence to the Dean, who places it on the High Altar. This signifies the passing of knowledge from one nurse to another. At St Margaret's Church at East Wellow in Hampshire, where Florence Nightingale is buried, a service is also held on the Sunday after her birthday.

• Many hospitals, day centres, wards, etc hold open days, coffee mornings, fund raising events and use the day for health care promotions and to raise the profile of the profession.

Themes

Previous year's Themes:

1988 - Safe Motherhood.
1989 - School Health.
1990 - Nurses and Environment.
1991 - Mental Health - Nurses in Action.
1992 - Healthy Aging.
1993 - Quality, costs and Nursing.
1994 - Healthy Families for Healthy Nation.
1995 - Women's Health: Nurses Pave the Way.
1996 - Better Health through Nursing Research.
1997 - Healthy Young People = A Brighter Future.
1998 - Partnership for Community Health.
1999 - Celebrating Nursing's Past, claiming the future.
2000 - Nurses - Always there for you.
2001 - Nurses, Always There for You: United Against Violence.
2002 - Nurses Always There for You: Caring for Families.
2003 - Nurses: Fighting AIDS stigma, working for all.
2004 - Nurses: Working with the Poor; Against Poverty.
2005 - Nurses for Patients Safety: Targeting counterfeit medicines and substandard medication.
2006 - Safe staffing saves lives.
2007 - Positive practice environments: Quality workplaces = quality patient care.
2008 - Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Primary Health Care.
2009 - Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Care Innovations.
2010 - Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Chronic Care.

Holiday Status - It is not a Holiday.