When is International Nurses Day?
International Nurses Day occurs on May 12th.
What is International Nurses Day?
Nurses are vital to society. Their care and devotion to cleanliness prevent disease, promote healthy lifestyles, and deliver the treatment we need to get back on our feet. International Nurses Day celebrates Florence Nightingale’s birthday and honors nurses around the world for their role in modern health care.
It all started in the Crimean War (1853-1856). When Nightingale showed up at a barracks hospital caring for British soldiers, the facility’s conditions appalled her. She enforced strict standards of care and sanitation. After the war, she campaigned for medical reform and opened a nursing school in London.
As the mother of the modern nursing profession, Nightingale revolutionized the medical world. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) launched International Nurses Day in 1974 to recognize Nightingale’s impact and to pay tribute to the world’s nurses.
Fun facts about International Nurses Day!
The WHO says that Nurses and Midwives account for 50% of the health workforce around the world.
Nurses are the first (and sometimes the only) medical worker many people see, so the quality of their initial assessment and treatment is crucial.
The U.S. medical community celebrates National Nurses Week, which begins with National Nurses Day on May 6th and ends with International Nurses Day on May 12th.
How to celebrate International Nurses Day:
Attend an event or luncheon that celebrates the world’s nurses. Take a moment to research the theme announced by the ICN for this year.
Send thank you letters and flowers to the men and women at your local hospitals and clinics.
What’s the hashtag for International Nurses Day?
Use #InternationalNursingDay on social media to honor nurses around the world.