International Nurses Day
Encyclopedia
International Nurses week (IND) is celebrated around the world every 6–12 May, to mark the contributions nurses make to society.
(ICN) has celebrated this day since 1965. In 1953 Dorothy Sutherland, an official with the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, had proposed that President Dwight D. Eisenhower
proclaim a "Nurses Day," but he did not approve it.
In January 1974, the decision was made to celebrate the day on 12 May as it is the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale
, who is widely considered the founder of modern nursing. Each year, ICN prepares and distributes the International Nurses' Day Kit. The kit contains educational and public information materials, for use by nurses everywhere.
In 1999 the British public sector union UNISON
voted to ask the ICN to transfer this day to another date, saying Nightingale did not represent modern nursing.
As of 1998, 8 May was designated as annual National Student Nurses Day. As of 2003, the Wednesday within National Nurses Week, between 6 and 12 May, is National School Nurse Day.
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.
instituted National Nursing Week in Canada in 1985.
Background
The International Council of NursesInternational Council of Nurses
The International Council of Nurses is a federation of more than 130 national nurses associations. It was founded in 1899 and was the first international organization for health care professionals...
(ICN) has celebrated this day since 1965. In 1953 Dorothy Sutherland, an official with the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, had proposed that President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
proclaim a "Nurses Day," but he did not approve it.
In January 1974, the decision was made to celebrate the day on 12 May as it is the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale OM, RRC was a celebrated English nurse, writer and statistician. She came to prominence for her pioneering work in nursing during the Crimean War, where she tended to wounded soldiers. She was dubbed "The Lady with the Lamp" after her habit of making rounds at night...
, who is widely considered the founder of modern nursing. Each year, ICN prepares and distributes the International Nurses' Day Kit. The kit contains educational and public information materials, for use by nurses everywhere.
In 1999 the British public sector union UNISON
UNISON
UNISON is the largest trade union in the United Kingdom with over 1.3 million members.The union was formed in 1993 when three public sector trade unions, the National and Local Government Officers Association , the National Union of Public Employees and the Confederation of Health Service...
voted to ask the ICN to transfer this day to another date, saying Nightingale did not represent modern nursing.
As of 1998, 8 May was designated as annual National Student Nurses Day. As of 2003, the Wednesday within National Nurses Week, between 6 and 12 May, is National School Nurse Day.
UK celebrations
Each year on 12 May service is held in Westminster AbbeyWestminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. 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
Wellow, Hampshire
Wellow is a village in Hampshire, England that falls within the Test Valley district. The village lies just outside the New Forest across the main A36 road which runs from the M27 motorway to Salisbury. The nearest town is Romsey and the nearest city Southampton...
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, where Florence Nightingale is buried, a service is also held on the Sunday after her birthday.
Themes
ICN themes for International Nurses Day:- 1988 - Safe Motherhood
- 1989 - School HealthSchool nursingSchool nursing is a specialized practice of professional nursing that advances the well being, academic success, and lifelong achievement of students...
- 1990 - Nurses and Environment
- 1991 - Mental Health - Nurses in Action
- 1992 - Healthy Aging
- 1993 - Quality, costs and Nursing
- 1994 - Healthy Families for Healthy Nation
- 1995 - Women's Health: Nurses Pave the Way
- 1996 - Better Health through Nursing ResearchNursing researchNursing research is the term used to describe the evidence used to support nursing practice. Nursing, as an evidence based area of practice, has been developing since the time of Florence Nightingale to the present day, where many nurses now work as researchers based in universities as well as in...
- 1997 - Healthy Young People = A Brighter Future
- 1998 - Partnership for Community Health
- 1999 - Celebrating Nursing's Past, claiming the future
- 2000 - Nurses - Always there for you
- 2001 - Nurses, Always There for You: United Against Violence
- 2002 - Nurses Always There for You: Caring for Families
- 2003 - Nurses: Fighting AIDSAIDSAcquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
stigma, working for all - 2004 - Nurses: Working with the Poor; Against PovertyPovertyPoverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
- 2005 - Nurses for Patients Safety: Targeting counterfeit medicines and substandard medication
- 2006 - Safe staffing saves lives
- 2007 - Positive practice environments: Quality workplaces = quality patient care
- 2008 - Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Primary Health CarePrimary health carePrimary health care, often abbreviated as “PHC”, has been defined as "essential health care based on practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and technology made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community through their full participation and at a cost...
- 2009 - Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Care Innovations
- 2010 - Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Chronic Care.
- 2011 - Closing The Gap: Increasing Access and Equity.
Nursing week
The U.S. and Canada celebrate their National Nursing Week each year from 9 to 15 May each year. It was established in the U.S. by President Richard Nixon in 1974. The Canadian Minister of HealthMinister of Health (Canada)
The Minister of Health is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for overseeing the federal government's health department and the enforcing the Public Health Agency of Canada, Canada Health Act, the law governing Medicare...
instituted National Nursing Week in Canada in 1985.
External links
- International Nurses Day Kit - by the International Council of Nurses; in English, French and Spanish
- Congratulation to Medical Workers on Int'l Nurses Day - by the Chinese Xinhua News AgencyXinhua News AgencyThe Xinhua News Agency is the official press agency of the government of the People's Republic of China and the biggest center for collecting information and press conferences in the PRC. It is the largest news agency in the PRC, ahead of the China News Service...
, 2003 - Celebrate the noble profession of nursing - a report from South Africa, 2005