International Nurses Day is celebrated on the birth of Florence Nightingale, which also honours her groundbreaking contributions to contemporary nursing. In recognition of nurses’ priceless contributions and selfless sacrifices to society, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) has commemorated this day annually since 1965.
Florence Nightingale was born on May 12, 1820, at Florence in Italy hence, International Nurses Day is celebrated each year on May 12.
International Nurses Day 2024: History and Significance
International Nurses Day was established in 1974 to honour nurses’ essential contribution to healthcare, along with that of physicians, physiotherapists, psychologists, and surgeons. Every year, the ICN provides the public and nurses with tools and information, and individuals send words and wishes to nurses expressing their gratitude and admiration for their commitment and diligence.
In addition to being credited with creating contemporary nursing, Florence Nightingale was an English statistician and social activist. Apart from making a significant positive impact on the health sector, she wrote more than 150 books, booklets, and studies on health-related topics.
Known as the “Lady with the lamp,” she is renowned for tending to the injuries sustained by British soldiers in the Crimean War, which raged from 1853 to 1856. She became the first woman to ever receive the Order of Merit when she was granted it in 1907.
International Nurses Day 2024: Quotes and Messages
- Florence Nightingale: And what nursing has to do in either case is to put the patient in the best condition for nature to act upon him.
- Mahatma Gandhi: The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others
- Mother Teresa: Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless.
- Barack Obama: America’s nurses are the beating heart of our medical system.
- Ian Miller: Remember: Nurses are like icebergs. At any one time, you are only seeing what they are actually doing.
