International Nurses Day or simply IND, is celebrated worldwide on May 12 each year. IND falls on the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the Founder of Modern Nursing. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) commemorates this important day annually by creating and distributing International Nurses Day (IND) materials and presentations. Please scroll down to learn more about IND, its history, importance, facts, greetings, quotes, and other information.
International Nurses Day 2024
International Nurses Day is a day celebrated globally on May 12th (the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale) to celebrate the contributions of nurses to society. Also known as IND and ICN, the day is observed by several countries across the world. The first IND celebrations began in 1965. This year, International Nurses Day will be celebrated on Sunday, May 12, 2024.
History of International Nurses Day
Since 1965, ICN (The International Council of Nurses) has been celebrating International Nurses Day (IND) since 1965. In 1953, Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare established the Nurses' Day, but he did not approve it. In January 1974, May 12 was chosen as the date of observance because it commemorates the birth of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.
International Nurses Day Theme 2024
"Our Nurses. Our Future. The economic power of care."
The economic power of care which creates healthy people and societies and drives healthy economies, will be highlighted by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) on International Nurses' Day (IND) 2024 under the theme: Our Nurses. Our Future. The economic power of care.[1]
Despite being the backbone of healthcare, nursing faces economic challenges and societal neglect. IND 2024 focuses on changing perceptions, showing how strategic investment in nursing benefits both the economy and society.
Importance of International Nurses Day
Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system. Highly trained and experienced, these medical associates play a vital role in providing patient care, an essential service to our community. This is the reason the world celebrates the contributions of Nurses around the world on May 12. The observation, therefore, aims to raise awareness about the important roles played by nurses in society and the support, and commitment of nurses among the common public in providing better healthcare.
International Nurses Day Activities and Celebrations
There is much work to be done to celebrate IND around the world, both nationally and globally. ICN produces and distributes the International Nurses Day Kit each year. The kit includes educational materials and public information for use by nurses everywhere.
National Nursing Week (United States and Canada)
Former U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation honoring National Nurses Day in May 2020. Since then, the United States has celebrated National Nursing Week every year from May 6 to May 12 (Florence Nightingale’s birthday). The Canadian Minister of Health established National Nursing Week in Canada in 1985. Canada celebrates National Nursing Week each year during the week that includes 12 May.
How to Celebrate International Nurses Day
You may find a lot of ways to celebrate IND. However, here we have given you 5 best ideas to celebrate Nurses Day that we hope will help you make the most of the day:
1. ORGANIZE A NURSES' NIGHT OUT
You can celebrate IND by getting together in someone's backyard for a cookout, or by reserving the patio of your team's favorite restaurant. Get lots of your friends together and get together for dinner and a night of fun. This can also be done in groups so every nurse in your hospital or care setting has a chance to join in the celebration.
2. APPRECIATE THEIR HARD WORK
Organize a gala or celebration and recognize the efforts and dedication of nurses. Invite nurses from local hospitals or clinic centers and hold a speech on nurses. Plus, post it in newsletters, blogs, and social media using hashtags like #IND, #IND2024, and #InternationalNursesDay.
3. MAKE THE SAME T-SHIRTS FOR YOUR GROUP
ICN produces and distributes the Nurses Day Kit each year. Grab those kits for your group. You can speak to your friends from the group and order online for personalized t-shirts. On t-shirts, you can provide vital health information or attach any famous nurses' quotes.
4. HOLD A TEAM LUNCHEON
Nurses are always on the go. So on this special day, make a good meal to fuel yourselves up. Besides, you can treat your team to a meal from one of your favorite local restaurants. If the administration doesn’t want to fund it, coordinate a potluck where everyone brings a favorite dish and learns a little about each other.
5. CONSIDER HELPING A NURSE
You may have a nurse in your own family or friends, or you may live near one. If possible, consider helping them out. Surprise them with a home-cooked meal that night or pack a healthy lunch to take to work. Your kindness and thoughtfulness will enhance the emotional and physical well-being of nurses who work continuously to save lives.
International Nurses Day Facts
Nurses are kind, compassionate, selfless, and caring, and try to help all those in need. To mark the IND occasion, learn some interesting facts about nursing that you may not know.
1. NURSING IS THE LARGEST HEALTHCARE PROFESSION
According to the American Association of Colleges and Nursing (AACN), nursing is the largest healthcare profession with approximately 4.2 million registered nurses (RNs) in the USA. Nursing in Canada and around the world is also in high demand.
2. PIONEER OF MODERN NURSING: Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale, an English nurse and statistician, is regarded as the mother of modern nursing because of the way nurses were trained and treated by society.
3. FIRST NURSING SCHOOLS
Founded in India in 250 BC, only male students could attend nursing school. Founded in 1862, New England Hospital for Women and Children was the first nursing school in the United States. Canada’s first school for nurses opened in 1874 at the St. Louis General and Marine Hospital at General and Marine Hospital in St. Catharines, Ontario.
4. PRIMARY PROFESSIONAL NURSES WERE NUNS
The nursing cap and first nursing uniforms were made by a nun as a way for the nuns to honor the role of patient care before upgrading to professionalized nursing.
5. NURSES WALK, 4 MILES A DAY, ON AVERAGE
A nursing study found that 146 nurses walked an average of 4-5 miles total during a 12-hour shift.[2] This compares to the average American, who walks only 2.5–3 miles per day.
International Nurses Day 2024 Quotes
Here are some wonderful Nursing Quotes to share with nurses you know or share on social media to show appreciation to them:
"Nurses are the heart of healthcare." — Donna Wilk Cardillo.
"To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, this is to have succeeded." — Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Let us never consider ourselves finished, nurses. We must be learning all of our lives." — Florence Nightingale
"The character of the nurse is as important as the knowledge she possesses." — Carolyn Jarvis
"When you are a nurse, you know that every day you will touch a life or a life will touch yours." — Unknown
"Our fingerprints don’t fade from the lives we touch." — Judy Blume
"I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took any excuse." — Florence Nightingale
"As a nurse we have the opportunity to heal the mind, soul, heart, and body of our patients. They may forget your name but they will never forget how you made them feel." — Maya Angelou
"The character of the nurse is as important as the knowledge she possesses." — Carolyn Jarvis
"A nurse will always give us hope, an angel with a stethoscope." — Carrie Latet
"Nurses — one of the few blessings of being ill." — Sara Moss-Wolfe