- International Nurse Day is observed every year on 12th May, to celebrate the efforts of nurses around the world.
- Nurses are indispensable in safeguarding public health. This day is to thank all nurses, their dedication, and work, especially during ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
- Nurses also have immense knowledge and have several skills that they spend in an organization for perfection and development.
- In January 1974, 12 May was finally officially declared as ‘International Nurses Day’ because on this date Florence Nightingale was born, who is the founder of modern nursing.
- Florence Nightingale was born on 12 May, 1820, Florence (Italy) and is known as the foundational philosopher of modern nursing. She is also famous as “The Lady with the Lamp”.
- She was a British nurse, statistician and social reformer and the founder philosopher of modern nursing. During the Crimean War, she was put in charge of nursing British and allied soldiers. She spends several hours in the wards and whole night she cared for patients, visited them, night rounds with a lamp in her hand and so an image was established as “Lady with the Lamp”.
- Due to her efforts of formalizing nursing education, the first scientifically based nursing school, the Nightingale School of Nursing, at St. Thoma’s Hospital in London was opened in 1860.
- She was also instrumental in setting up training for midwives and nurses in workhouse infirmaries. She was the first woman awarded the Order of Merit in 1907.
- The theme for International Nurses Day 2021, following on from previous years, the overarching theme for IND is Nurses: ‘A Voice to Lead’. The sub-theme for 2021 is ‘A Vision for Future Healthcare’. So, the theme for International Nurses Day 2021 is “A Voice to Lead – A Vision for Future Healthcare”.
- The global COVID-19 pandemic has shown the world the important role that nurses play in keeping people healthy across the lifespan.While there has been significant disruption to healthcare, there has also been significant innovation that has improved access to care.
- In 2021, the ICN will focus on the changes to and innovations in nursing and how this will ultimately shape the future of healthcare
- The theme for 2020 was “Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Nursing the World to Health”.World Health Organization (WHO) designated 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.
- ICN is an organization that operates nurses and leads nursing internationally. They ensure quality nursing care for all and sound health policies all around the world.
- Every year ICN chooses a theme to celebrate International Nurses Day.
- On this day, ICN prepare and distribute International Nurses Day Kit which consists of educational and public information materials which can be used by nurses among the public.
