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Every year on May 12th, the world celebrates International Nurses Day, a day dedicated to recognizing and honoring the contributions of nurses worldwide. This special day not only commemorates the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, but also serves as a reminder of the invaluable role nurses play in healthcare systems globally. The day, established by the International Council of Nurses (ICN), helps to highlight the important role nurses fulfill in health care. Find out more about International Nurses Day 2024 here!
History of Nurses’ Day 2024
It began in 1953, when Dorothy Sutherland, an official with the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, contacted President Dwight D. Eisenhower proposing he proclaim a “Nurses’ Day”. However, he did not approve her proposal at that time.
International Nurses Day has been celebrated by the ICN since 1965 but it was in 1974 that it was decided to observe this day on May 12th to commemorate the birth of Florence Nightingale on the same day in 1820. She is considered as the foundational philosopher of modern nursing. She fought to lay the foundations and laws to protect the nursing profession and worked on developing it.
Florence Nightingale was a British reformer and is very well known as the founder of modern nursing. She came into distinction during the Crimean War. She was serving as a manager and trainer of nurses during the Crimean war where in she organized care for wounded soldiers. Florence Nightingale’s most famous contribution came during the Crimean War, which became her central focus when reports got back to Britain about the horrific conditions for the wounded. On 21 October 1854, she and the staff of 38 women volunteer nurses that she trained and 15 catholic nuns found that the soldiers were wounded badly were not given proper care. They found that during that war the medicines were in short supply, hygiene was being neglected, and mass infections were common among the soldiers and many of them fatal. Nightingale was called the “The Lady with the Lamp” because she used to go out in the dark heading to the battlefields, while holding a lamp in her hand in order to search for the wounded and injured to help them.
International Nurses Day 2024 Theme
Each year, International Nurses Day is celebrated with a specific theme that highlights various aspects of nursing and healthcare. The theme for International Nurses Day 2024 is “The Economic Power of Care,” which aims to draw attention to the significant economic impact of nursing and the healthcare industry.
The theme emphasizes the crucial role of nurses in driving economic growth, promoting sustainable development, and improving the overall well-being of individuals and communities. It also aims to raise awareness about the importance of investing in nursing education, research, and workforce development to achieve better health outcomes and economic prosperity.
International Nurses Day Quotes 2024
- Nurses’ Day, on 12 May 2024, is an opportunity to showcase the amazing work of our members and to say thank you to nursing staff across the UK. – RCN general secretary and chief executive, Pat Cullen
- Caring is the essence of nursing. – Jean Watson
- Nurses are the heart of healthcare. – Donna Wilk Cardillo
- The nurses were all angels in my eyes. – Randy Castillo
- Nurses, one of the few blessings of being ill. – Sara Moss-Wolfe
- Being a nurse is a blessing but offering unconditional services to patients is your karma…. And you my dear nurse is a role model for everyone as you have always been selfless in giving the best of the services and helping patients recover….. Wishing you Happy International Nurses Day. – Unknown
- Every day you make someone smile…. You help someone come out of the pain…. You make a difference to someone’s life….. Sending Nurses Day wishes to you for you are a source of inspiration and happiness for many patients and their families. – Unknown
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International Nurses Day Quiz 2024
Which year was the Nurses Registration Act established?
International Nurses Day is a day to honor and recognize the tireless work of nurses around the world. They dedicate their time and energy to provide physical and mental relief to the sick and injured. This day is an opportunity for us to acknowledge the hard work, long hours, and emotional duress that are part of the life of every nurse. These front line workers require a great salute, hence take some time to honor and appreciate a nurse today. They are the real superheroes.
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