The Year of the Nurse

“To do what nobody else will do, in a way that nobody else can do, in spite of all we go through…that is what it is to be a nurse.”
~ Rawsi Williams

Nurses week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th. May 12th 2020 is the 200th year anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth which makes this the perfect time to be named The Year of the Nurse. The “Lady with the Lamp” became the founder of modern nursing and started the first scientifically based nursing school in London in 1860. The Nightingale Pledge named in her honor is a statement of the ethics and principles of the nursing profession. Her dedication to innovate and educate nurses and midwives still inspires people to this day.

Nurses have been providing essential care for centuries and make up over half of the health workforce in a lot of countries. They are the frontline of care and make such a difference in the community.  In 2018 the Nursing Now global campaign was launched and will be completed at the end of this year. It focuses on encouraging more interest in the workforce, sharing techniques, conducting research, giving nurses and midwives a chance to be heard in making new policies and creating more leadership positions.

The theme for this year’s nurses week is compassion, expertise, and trust.  Most nurses just want some patience, understanding and a little respect. Every nurse deserves to have their skills acknowledged and appreciated.

To every nurse out there working hard on the frontlines, we thank you and appreciate you!