International Nurses Day (12/05)

International Nurses Day is celebrated annually on May 12th. In other words, today there is reason to once again thank and congratulate representatives of one of the most humane professions.

Nurses — are specialists who have received primary medical education and follow the instructions of a doctor or paramedic to care for the sick; these are mandatory assistants to doctors, because they are the ones who work directly with the patient throughout the entire period of treatment. Currently, nurses make up the largest category of health workers, since in medical practice a large share of medical services is provided exclusively by nursing staff.

Do not forget that nurses take a direct part in the fight against coronavirus and other infections, investing all their experience and professionalism, their best personal qualities and determination in their work.

The professional holiday of nurses is celebrated on the birthday of one of the famous Englishwomen, Florence Nightingale, who organized the world's first service of sisters of mercy during the Crimean War (1853—1856).

It is known that among the sisters of mercy who went to the front of the Crimean War were Russian nuns from the Moscow St. Nicholas Monastery. Subsequently, many Russian female aristocrats worked in hospitals, including the wife and daughters of Emperor Nicholas II.

Although the holiday is actually over one hundred and fifty years old, it was not until January 1974 that the official decision was made to celebrate the day on May 12. Nurses Day has been celebrated since the unification of the Sisters of Mercy into the professional public organization — International Council of Nurses (ICN), which decided to celebrate this holiday on Florence Nightingale's birthday.

Today, ICN is a federation of more than 130 national nursing associations representing more than 27 million nurses worldwide.

For the holiday, ICN annually prepares information materials, announces the theme and slogan of the upcoming celebration. So, for example, over the years, the themes of the Day were: «Medical sisters for patient safety — against counterfeit medications», «Adequate staffing — patient safety condition», «Ensure quality in the service of society: nurses at the forefront of innovation», «Closing the gap: increasing accessibility and equality», «Bridging the gap: from scientific evidence to evidence-based nursing practice», «Medical sisters: the driving force of change — is a vital resource in support of health», «Our nurses. Our future» and others.

In Russia, the holiday has been celebrated since 1993. Traditionally, on this day, a number of medical institutions host various events both in a scientific and practical direction (conferences, seminars and round tables dedicated to promoting a healthy lifestyle, improving professional competence and developing the personal and creative potential of nursing staff), and of an entertaining nature — professional competitions and shows, KVN, concerts, etc.



• Infographics – poster «May 12 — International Nurses Day »

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