INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY । florence nightingale international nurses day । international nurses day articles

 INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY  

Introduction :- Every year International Nurses Day is celebrated on 12th May, throughout the world to commemorate the contributions made to the society by the nurses. It also commemorates the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, who was a British social reformer and founder of modern nursing.

International Nurses Day  History :-

 The International Council of Nurses (ICN), a federation that sponsors the International Nurses Day, was established in 1899. It was the first of its kind, organization of global healthcare professionals. The organization has been celebrating International Nurses Day as an annual event since 1965.The proposal for observing International Nurses Day as a global event was first made in 1953 by an official of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Dorothy Sutherland. The proposal was made to the then President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower; however, the President turned down the proposal. Nevertheless, the United States started observing National Nurses Week from 11 to 16th October, beginning in 1954.Following the efforts of ICN, the 37 President of the United States, Mr. Richard Nixon, proclaimed the observation of National Nurses Week in 1974. The council chose the date 12th May to commemorate the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. The 40th President of the United States, Ronal Reagan, officially designated 6th May as National Nurses Day in 1990. This formed the ground for International Nurses Day celebrated globally as an event to commemorate the nurses and the nursing profession. It is also observed to honor Florence Nightingale who is remembered as the founder of modern nursing.

Observations around the Globe :- 

International Nurses Day is sponsored by the International Council of Nurses (ICN). They distribute medical kits and informational materials to the nurses across the globe. The day is celebrated differently across the globe. Below we will go through the celebrations in some major countries of the world.

United Kingdom :-

 Being the birth place of Florence Nightingale, United Kingdom holds some special services to commemorate the nurses. Westminster Abbey is a church located in London, which holds an event of symbolic passing of a lamp from one nurse to the other, indicating the passage of knowledge. A special service is also held at the St. Margaret’s Church in Hampshire, where Florence Nightingale is buried.

United States :-

 In the United States of America, a National Nursing Week is observed every year from 6th May to 12 May. Similarly in Canada also a National Nursing Week was instituted in 1985.

Australia :- 

Australia celebrates the day by felicitating its nursing staff. Several award ceremonies are held throughout the country, in which awards are given to those nurses selected for their distinguished services in the field of healthcare.

China :- 

Nurses in China celebrate International Nurses Day by organizing events like candle march, oath ceremonies and others. Thousands of nurses gather at an appropriate place and hold the events.

India :- International Nurses Day is also widely observed in India, throughout private and government hospitals. Though there is no thumb rule for the celebration and every hospital or organization celebrates it in its own way. Commemoratory events for nursing staff are held in medical colleges and hospitals, with participation from doctors, lecturers and other persons related to the medical profession.

Conclusion :- 

Nursing is an important profession and nurses play a vital role in patient care and implementing the healthcare services at ground level. The efficiency of the government’s healthcare policies and services, depends to a large extent, on the nursing staff; therefore, there is a need to regularly boost their morale through events like International Nurses Day.