What is International Nurses Day & Why We Celebrate It

IVs started, bed baths given, medications administered, and lives saved; all in a normal shift for nurses. Nurses do all of these things, and many more throughout a shift with a smile on their faces, sometimes without ever hearing a thank you. Nurses don’t work the long hours, missing weekends and holidays with family, bedtime with their kids for the thank you. Days, such as International Nurses Day, are specific days to celebrate nurses and give those long overdue thank-yous. 

What is International Nurses Day?  

Celebrated May 12th, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth, International Nurses Day a day to recognize nurses around the world and celebrate their contributions to the nursing profession. Each year has a theme, and the them in 2023 is Our Nurses. Our Future. 

Dr. Pamela Cipriano, ICN President, says “The Our Nurses. Our Future. campaign will shine the light on nurses and on a brighter future, moving nurses from invisible to invaluable in the eyes of policymakers, the public, and all those who make decisions affecting the delivery and financing of health care.”

Honoring Florence Nightingale

May 12th is the birthday of one of the most iconic and innovative nurses of all time: Florence Nightingale. Her story is motivating, inspiring, and helps remind nurses of the significance of profession. 

Born in Italy, into an affluent British family, her family took great pride in their connections within elite social circles and had specific expectations for Florence including marriage and children. Nightingale’s family discouraged her from entering the nursing profession, but she did it anyway. In1844, Nightingale enrolled as a nursing student at the Lutheran Hospital of Pastor Fliedner in Kaiserwerth, Germany.

After risking her life during a Cholera outbreak, she volunteered to travel overseas and care for hospitalized soldiers during the Crimean War. It was at this time that Nightingale helped develop the hospital's sanitation practices and procedures. Because of her, two-thirds fewer people died, and much was learned about patient care and cleanliness.

Nightingale also established St. Thomas’s Hospital and the Nightingale Training School for Nurses in 1860. Upon her death in August 1910, at her home in London, Nightingale was honored throughout the nursing profession and forever changed the landscape of modern nursing. 

The History of International Nurses Day

International Nurses Day was established in 1974 by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) to celebrate the contributions of nurses. Each year, the ICN determines a theme for International Nurses Day and distributes a kit with educational and public information materials to be utilized by nurses around the world. 

International Nurses Day is the last day of the much anticipated National Nurses Week. Nurse’s Day has been internationally recognized and celebrated by the International Council of Nurses on May 12th for over 50 years, since 1965. However, in the U.S., President Ronald Reagan changed Nurse’s Day to May 6th in 1982. 

In 1991, the American Nurses Association (ANA), changed Nurse's Day from just a day to an entire week dedicated to nurses. Student nurses are even included as well, and May 8th is officially titled National Student Nurse’s Day.

2023 Nurses Day Theme: Our Nurses, Our Future

Dr. Cipriano explains the 2023 Nurse’s Day theme, saying:

 "Our Nurses. Our Future. sets out what ICN wants for nursing in the future in order to address the global health challenges and improve global health for all. We need to learn from the lessons of the pandemic and translate these into actions for the future that ensure nurses are protected, respected, and valued.

With the release of the State of the World’s Nursing report, the Global Strategic Directions for Nursing & Midwifery, the Sustain and Retain in 2022 and Beyond and many other important publications, ICN and other organisations have shown the evidence for change and called for action and investments in nursing. It is now time to look to the future and demonstrate what these investments will mean for nursing and healthcare."

How We Celebrate International Nurse’s Day

Hospitals may celebrate and honor their nurses in many different ways. Providing coffee, catering lunches, handing out swag like T-shirts and water bottles, and passing out individual gifts and signed thank you cards are just a few of the many things hospitals and healthcare systems may do.

Each year nurses around the world unite to celebrate and reflect and honor one another. In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) joined healthcare organizations around the world to light candles to honor nurses especially those who had fallen to COVID-19. 

Countries around the world celebrate International Nurses Day in a variety of ways. Professional organizations across Ireland, celebrate nurses each year. 

Last year, Minister Donnelly said, "I’d like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the professionalism and sustained commitment that nurses throughout Ireland have shown in delivering care to patients, especially during the past two years. Nurses provide the care and compassion for patients and their families at the most challenging times of their lives."

Image: The Irish Post

The Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer for NSW Health, Jacqui Cross, released a video in anticipation of International Nurses Day to highlight the contribution of nurses to the profession. 

Canada is encouraging nurses to connect to one another. Utilizing hashtags, nurses can highlight and showcase their profession. The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) wants nurses to use the following hashtags this year: #CNA2023 #OurNursesOurFuture #IKnowANurse #NationalNursingWeek #IND2023 #Nurses2023 #VoiceToLead

Here are some other ideas for things you can do to celebrate this special day for yourself, or the special nurses in your life.

Nurse’s Day Freebies and Deals

Discounts and deals for nurses are well-deserved, and plenty of places participate in honoring nurses during this time by offering special deals, or freebies. 

Many retailers offer Nurses Week deals and discounts. Be on the lookout at your favorite scrub store, lunch spot, and coffee shop to see if they will be offering Nurse's Day specials. 

The work nurses do is unique, critical, and valuable beyond measure.  It's more than just a job; the skills nurses have are a vital part of healthcare.  Enjoy International Nurses Day, and take time to do something special for yourself and the amazing nurses in your life.