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National nurses day
National Nurses Day is observed annually on May 6th. On this day, we raise awareness of all nurse contributions and commitments and acknowledge the vital role nurses play in society. This day is also the first day of National Nurses Week and is sometimes known as National RN Recognition Day. National Nurses Week begins May 6th and ends on May 12th, which is the birthday of Florence Nightingale (May 12, 1820 – August 13, 1910). Florence Nightingale was a celebrated English, social reformer, statistician, and the founder of modern nursing. She became well-known while taking care of the wounded soldiers during the Crimean War. Nightingale was dubbed “The Lady with the Lamp” because of her habit of making rounds at night. HOW TO OBSERVE
Recognize nurses everywhere. Celebrate their dedication and commitment to their patients and their profession. Tell someone about the excellent care you’ve received from a nurse.
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NATIONAL NURSES DAY HISTORY
The International Council For Nurses (ICN) in America started the event in 1965, though it was not officially recognised by the US Government until 1974.
In 1999 nurses and public sector employees union UNISON mounted a campaign to change the date and remove the historical importance of Florence Nightingale from Nurses Week because they felt that she no longer reflected modern day nursing because of her class and social background. They thought that she was not in keeping with the multi-cultural nature of modern nursing. Unison suggested the day be celebrated on 21 May which was the birthday of Elizabeth Fry. She was a 19th century reformer who founded the Institution of Nursing Sisters several years before Florence Nightingale set up her own nursing team. She went on to improve the life of the mentally ill and made many reforms in hospitals. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) disagreed with this campaign and were backed by many more nurses who felt that Florence Nightingale was an important founder of modern nursing and should rightly be remembered and celebrated on International Nurses Day.
