International Nurses Day

International Nurses Day

Czech nursing students (2006)
Also called ICN
Observed by Various countries
Begins 1965
Date 12 May
Next time 12 May 2018 (2018-05-12)
Frequency annual

International Nurses Day (IND) is an international day celebrated around the world on 12 May (the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth) of each year, to mark the contributions nurses make to society.[1]

Background

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has celebrated this day since 1965.

In 1953 Dorothy Sutherland, an official with the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, proposed that President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaim a "Nurses' Day"; he did not approve it.

In January 1974, 12 May was chosen to celebrate the day as it is the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.[2][3] Each year, ICN prepares and distributes the International Nurses' Day Kit.[4] The kit contains educational and public information materials, for use by nurses everywhere.

As of 1998, 8 May was designated as annual National Student Nurses' Day.

Themes

ICN themes for International Nurses Day:[5]

Celebrations Internationally

Australia

The Australian Nurse of the Year is announced at a ceremony at one of the state's capital cities. Additionally, in each of the Australian states and territories, various nursing ceremonies are conducted during the week.

China

In 2007, 5000 nurses gathered in Yichun, East China's Jiangxi Province.[7] Each year nurses in Chinese hospitals recite the Florence Nightingale Pledge.

Ireland

Since 2012, Nurse Jobs Ireland (an Irish nurse recruitment agency) launch a weeklong pro-bono campaign to celebrate nurses on the 6–12 May every year. This week long celebration uses digital platforms such as Twitter and Facebook to promote the great work nurses do using the hashtag #CelebrateNurses. The public leave their positive comments and thanks on the Celebrate Nurses website where they are collated into an ebook which is shared in medical facilities throughout Ireland.

United Kingdom

Each year a service is held in Westminster Abbey in London. During the Service, a symbolic lamp is taken from the Nurses' Chapel in the Abbey and handed from one nurse to another, thence to the Dean, who places it on the High Altar. This signifies the passing of knowledge from one nurse to another. At St Margaret's Church at East Wellow in Hampshire, where Florence Nightingale is buried, a service is also held on the Sunday after her birthday.[8]

USA & Canadian Celebrations (National Nursing Week)

The U.S. celebrates National Nursing Week each year from 6 May to 12 May (the birthday of Florence Nightingale). Canada celebrates National Nursing Week each year during the week that includes 12 May, which is Florence Nightingale's birthday. The Canadian Minister of Health instituted National Nursing Week in Canada in 1985.

In the U.S., National Nurses Week was first observed from 11–16 October 1954 in honor of the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale's mission to Crimea. President Nixon later proclaimed a "National Nurse Week" in 1974. In 1982, President Reagan signed a proposal officially designating 6 May as "National Recognition Day for Nurses," now known as National Nurses Day or National RN Recognition Day. In 1990, the American Nurses Association (ANA) expanded the holiday into the current National Nurses Week celebrated from 6 May to 12 May.

In 1997, at the request of the National Student Nurses' Association, the ANA designated 8 May as National Student Nurses Day. In 2003, the ANA designated the Wednesday within National Nurses Week as National School Nurse Day. [9][10] The National Association of School Nurses, however, claims that National School Nurse Day has been recognized since 1972.[11]

Singapore

Singapore celebrates Nurses Day on 1 August.[12] Back in the 1800s, a thriving Singapore found itself in need of providing better healthcare and medical services to a growing population. While there were several hospitals, there was a lack of nurses to support the doctors. French nuns from the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus were trained to become nurses to fulfil this need, as they were seen as the only educated European women in Singapore who could undertake this challenge. 1 August 1885 marks the beginning of the development of nursing in Singapore when these nuns began their nursing duties in the General Hospital at the Sepoy Lines in the Outram area. [13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "International Nurses Day". International Council of Nurses. Archived from the original on 19 May 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  2. ↑ Chung, King-Thom (2009). Women Pioneers of Medical Research: Biographies of 25 Outstanding Scientists. Chapter 2. Florence Nightingale (1820–1910). Founder of Modern Nursing. McFarland. p. 16.
  3. ↑ "Florence Nightingale: the medical superstar". Daily Express. 12 May 2016.
  4. 1 2 "2016 – Nurses: A Force for Change: Improving health systems' resilience". www.icn.ch. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  5. ↑ "International Nurses Day". International Council of Nurses. Archived from the original on 9 December 2006. Retrieved 2 December 2006.
  6. ↑ "2015 – Nurses: A Force for Change: Care Effective, Cost Effective". www.icn.ch. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  7. ↑ "International Nurses Day – china.org.cn". www.china.org.cn. Archived from the original on 15 May 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  8. ↑ "Commemoration Service". Florence Nightingale Foundation. Archived from the original on 16 October 2006. Retrieved 3 December 2006.
  9. ↑ "National Nurses Day". Calendar Updates, LLC. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  10. ↑ "National Nurses Week History". American Nurses Association. Archived from the original on 4 May 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  11. ↑ "National School Nurse Day". National Association of School Nurses. Archived from the original on 1 May 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  12. ↑ Singapore, National Library Board,. "Nurses Day | Infopedia". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 2017-08-01.
  13. ↑ "S’pore’s Nurses’ Day falls on Aug. 1, the noble profession here was started by French nuns". Mothership.sg. Retrieved 2017-08-01.
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