12th May is observed as International Day of Nurses. This day is observed to underscore the importance of nurses in the healthcare system and to appreciate and applaud them for their selfless services.
In these times of the coronavirus pandemic, there could not have been a more opportune time to celebrate the International Day of Nurses. The outbreak of the COVID-19 is a stark reminder for the world to realize the importance of nurses and the critical role they play in the successful maintenance of the healthcare systems across the world.
In the @WHO Western Pacific Region, 95% of nurses are women.
On International Day of the Nurse, we thank them for their tireless work to ensure we are safe, healthy and cared for. #SupportNursesAndMidwives #NursesDay #UnsungHeroes pic.twitter.com/BOeJqz275y— World Health Organization Western Pacific (@WHOWPRO) May 12, 2020
Why is it celebrated on 12th May?
The International Day of Nurses is observed on 12th May to commemorate the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, widely considered the founder of modern nursing.
The International Day of Nurses 2020 celebrates the 200th birthday of Florence Nightingale.
Who was Florence Nightingale?
Florence Nightingale, also called the ‘Lady with the Lamp’, was a British nurse and social reformer, and is regarded as the foundational philosopher of modern nursing practices. During the Crimean War, she was in charge of nursing the British and allied soldiers in Turkey and her experiences during that time were formative in helping reform the healthcare sector in the 19th and 20th century.
Also, her efforts to bring a structure to nursing education helped in establishing the first scientifically based nursing school ever — the Nightingale School of Nursing, at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London in 1860.
Theme for International Nurses Day 2020
The theme for the International Nurses Day 2020 is “Nursing the World to Health.”
Nurses have been at the forefront of the healthcare system since times immemorial, providing very high quality treatment and care for the patients. Very often, they are the first and sometimes, the only points of contact for the ill.
Despite the fact that more than half the healthcare professionals in the world are nurses, there is an acute shortage of nurses worldwide, with reports saying that over 5.9 million more nurses are needed.
On this International Nurses Day, we salute all nurses who are risking their lives to ensure that others are saved. We could not be more grateful!
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