International Nurses Day 2023

Every May 12, on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth, International Nurses Day is observed all over the world. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) recognises this significant day each year by creating and disseminating materials for International Nurses Day (IND). Our Future will outline the goals we have for nursing in the future in order to address the challenges facing global health and improve global health for all. We must apply the lessons we’ve learned from the pandemic to our future actions.

What is International Nurses Day?

The purpose of Nurses Day is to recognise and honour the contributions of nurses worldwide. Every year on May 12, which is the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth, the day is observed. The International Council of Nurses selected the special day, which has been recognised as such since 1974. The legendary Florence Nightingale, a British nurse and social reformer who devoted her life to advancing the medical field, is the inspiration behind the day. Nurses Day’s 2018 theme is “Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Invest in Nursing and respect rights to secure global health.”   

Also Read: How to Become a Nurse?

Why Do We Honor Nurses on May 12?

The U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare’s Dorothy Sutherland proposed to the then-president in 1953 that October 1 be designated as Nurses Day. The proposal was rejected, though. Frances P. Bolton, the first woman from Ohio to be elected to Congress, then sponsored a bill for National Nurse Week. But it wasn’t until President Nixon made the announcement of a National Nurse Week in February 1974, which would run from May 6 to May 12, that it had been 20 years. As a result, May 12 became recognised as Nurses Day.

History of International Nurses Day

It all started in 1953 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower was contacted by Dorothy Sutherland, a representative of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, asking him to declare a “Nurses’ Day”. He did not, however, at that moment accept her proposal. Since 1965, the International Council of Nurses has observed May 12 as their holiday.

The birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, widely regarded as the father of modern nursing, falls on May 12, making it an important day for all nurses. This day was finally declared International Nurses Day in January 1974. Since then, ICN has created and distributed a kit for nurses worldwide to use on International Nurses Day that includes educational and public informational materials.

Every year, International Nurses Day is associated with a different theme. We advise looking at the theme because doing so will help you better understand the focus and may influence how you observe International Nurses Day. One of the most recent themes, for instance, was “Nursing the World to Health.” This theme was created to draw attention to the genuine benefits that nurses provide to people all over the world. The theme will serve as the direction for the celebrations and activities of many of the largest organizations in the world that support this date.

Must Read: National Doctor’s Day

Themes for International Nurses Day

Below mentioned are the themes for International Nurses Day:

What Connection does Florence Nightingale have for International Nurses Day?

During the Crimean War, Florence Nightingale, known as the “Lady with the Lamp,” cared for the injured members of the British army and their allies. Florence Nightingale not only established nursing and medical care standards in the military hospitals and camps, but she also opened the Nightingale Training School at St. Thomas’ Hospital in 1860 to train future nurses and healthcare professionals.

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How to Observe International Nurses Day?

Check out these amazing ideas to observe international nurses day.

Take this chance to express your gratitude 

Provide your gratitude to the nurse, the one who took care of you because this day is dedicated to recognising nurses’ unending contributions to society. Whatever you choose to do doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive, as is the case with most expressions of gratitude. Even a small “thank you” can make a nurse’s day because, regrettably, many patients fail to thank their nurses, viewing them only as machines that follow the doctor’s orders.

Be Appreciative

Today is the day to express your gratitude if you are particularly appreciative of the way a particular nurse looked after you (fed you, brought you a blanket, you can also thank them for taking you to the washroom, also for helping you to dress up every morning, taking care of your medicines and giving them on time, cleaning your vomitings and constantly monitoring your signs and symptoms. You can bring a box of chocolates, a nice bottle of wine, or anything else you think the particular nurse might enjoy when you go to the hospital.

Remember their Efforts

After spending months in the hospital with a serious condition, some patients choose to order pizza or cake for the entire medical staff that was caring for them. If you choose to do this, you can be sure that the team will remember you for the rest of time. As was previously stated, the most important factor is the thought. A nurse’s main objective is to assist you in completing treatment and recovering, so simply knowing that they were successful is a reward in and of itself.

FAQs

We have covered everything in detail about International Nurse Day. We hope this blog post was helpful in providing you with the information. For more such interesting information, stay tuned to Leverage Edu.