Home > GK Article > World Nurses Day
World Nurses Day
World Nurses Day is celebrated every year on 12 May. This day is dedicated to those nurses who dedicate their lives in the service of humanity. Nurses not only perform a profession but are the embodiment of service, empathy, compassion and dedication. This day is organized to commemorate the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the mother of modern nursing. Nurses are the backbone of the health system. They are at the forefront of caring for patients and provide them mental, emotional and physical support.
History of World Nurses Day
Florence Nightingale was born on 12 May 1820 in England. She served wounded soldiers during the Crimean War (1853–1856) and laid the foundation of modern nursing. She made nursing a respectable and systematic profession.
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) initiated the 'International Nurses Day' in 1974 to recognize and promote the crucial role nurses play in delivering quality healthcare. Since then, this day is celebrated every year across the world to honour the contribution of nurses.
Importance of nurses
1. Spirit of service: Nurses are extremely dedicated to their duties. They serve patients tirelessly day and night. In hospitals, nurses spend more time than doctors in improving the health of patients.
2. Mental and emotional support: When a person is admitted to the hospital, he is not only physically weak but also mentally weak. Nurses give them sensitivity and belongingness, which gives mental strength to the patients.
3. Management of medicines and care on time: The timing of the patients' medicines, taking care of their food, arranging tests—all these responsibilities are performed by nurses with full devotion.
4. First to be present in emergency: Whether it is an epidemic or a disaster, nurses are the first to engage in services. The corona pandemic is a living example of this.
5. Covid-19 and the role of nurses: The corona virus pandemic exposed the role of nurses to the whole world. When the whole country was in lockdown, nurses were serving infected patients away from their families. They worked without caring for their lives, wearing PPE kits and doing duty for hours. During this pandemic, nurses not only became health care providers, but also played a key role in handling the mental state of the patients. Their contribution can never be forgotten.
Challenges of nurses
1. Low salary and lack of resources: Most nurses work on relatively low salaries. They also face a lack of health facilities and resources.
2. Excessive workload: Many times a nurse has to take care of many patients simultaneously. This also affects their mental and physical health.
3. Mental stress: The critical condition of patients, facing deaths, and distance from family—all these have a profound impact on the mental health of a nurse.
4. Lack of social respect: Even today, nursing has not got the respect in society that a doctor or engineer gets, whereas their work is no less than that.
Role of government and society
Given the contribution of nurses, it is the responsibility of the government and society to further strengthen this profession:
- Providing the right salary and facilities
- Improving nursing education
- Providing a safe working environment
- Focusing on mental health
- Increasing social respect for nurses
Theme of each year
Every year World Nurses Day has a different theme that highlights a particular aspect of nursing. For example:
- The theme of 2023 was: "Our Nurses. Our Future."
- The theme of 2024 was: “Our Nurses. Our Future. The economic power of care.”
Such a theme serves to bring the role of nurses before the society and policy makers.
Nursing: An inspiration
Nursing is not just a job, it is an act of service that requires compassion, empathy, patience and hard work. This profession serves millions of people giving life and hope.
Florence Nightingale once said: "I attribute my success to this – I never gave or took any excuse."
This statement reflects the commitment of the nursing profession.
Conclusion
World Nurses Day is an occasion to honour all those nurses who are selflessly serving humanity. Any health system is incomplete without them. Today we have to understand that if doctors give life, nurses cherish it.
On this day, we should take a pledge that we will give the nursing profession the respect and facilities it deserves. Also, we should inspire the new generation to come into the field of nursing, so that this tradition of service continues.
"Nurses not only cure patients, they give them hope, courage and life."