International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world every May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth, of each year, to mark the contributions nurses make to society.

BACKGROUND

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) celebrated the day for the first time in 1965.
Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, came to prominence while serving as a manager of nurses trained by her during the Crimean War, where she organized the tending to wounded soldiers. She gave nursing a highly favourable reputation and became an icon of Victorian culture, especially in the persona of "The Lady with the Lamp" making rounds of wounded soldiers at night.

SIGNIFICANCE

In 2020 and 2021, we have seen the devastations caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. In almost two years since the pandemic began in 2020, the world has seen over 160 million coronavirus cases and over 3 million deaths worldwide. The pandemic has burdened our health infrastructure unlike ever before. However, despite the magnitude of the situation, our health workers , doctors, nurses and others have been at the forefront fighting the virus and saving lives. Nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system who have been risking their lives for months. Nurses have a diverse role and are responsible for carrying out several tasks in the workplace. They administer medicines to patients, write their care plans, assist with evaluations and tests, and set up blood transfusions and drips.
They also maintain patient records, train juniors, and organize staff to maintain a friendly and efficient work environment in hospitals and clinics.

THEME

The International Nurses Day 2021 assumes great significance to express our deep gratitude for nurses and health workers around the world. The theme for the 2021 is Nurses: A Voice to Lead - A vision for future healthcare.