International Nurses Day - 12 May

Tags: Important Days

International Nurses Day is celebrated on 12 May across the world to honour the services of nurses.

An Overview of the News

• The day is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing and a renowned English social reformer and statistician.

• Florence Nightingale is known as the "Lady with the Lamp".

• This year the theme of International Nurses Day 2023 is "Our Nurses, Our Future".

• The theme for International Nurses Day 2022 is "Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Invest in Nursing and Respect Rights to Secure Global Health".

• International Nurses Week is celebrated from May 6 to May 12 in many hospitals around the world.

• Various activities including yoga sessions and seminars are organised during this week to recognize and support nurses.

Background of the day

• Florence Nightingale was born on May 12, 1820, in Florence, Italy and is widely regarded as the forerunner of modern nursing.

• In 1974, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) proposed 12 May as International Nurses Day and since then it is celebrated globally.

• The theme of International Nurses Day changes every year with the aim of highlighting the important contribution of nurses to the healthcare system and society.

• The day serves as an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the selfless service of nurses who work tirelessly to care for patients, save lives, and promote health and wellness.