International Nurse’s Day: May 2014 #TBB Feature

“Each year, nursing organisations and governments around the globe celebrate International Nurse’s Day as a means for the public to thank nurses everywhere. It is held on May 12^th, the day of Florence Nightingale’s birth in 1820, as celebrated by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) since 1965. It has been themed since 1988, this year’s being Nurses: A Force for Change – A vital resource for health. The IND Kit 2014, containing educational materials and public information, can be downloaded from the website.

In the UK, usually on the Wednesday before May 12^th, a Service of Thanksgiving is held in Westminster Abbey to commemorate the life and work of Florence Nightingale and to celebrate the works of qualified and unqualified nursing and midwifery staff. Beginning at the Abbey’s Nurse’s Chapel, a lamp, signifying the collective knowledge, is symbolically passed from one nurse, to another, to the Dean, who places it on the High Altar. This year, the service will be conducted on May 7^th. The Royal College of Nurses has organised events around the country between 8^th-23^rd May; the UK’s Cavell Nurse’s Trust will hold a 2-day event between 12^th-14^th May; and in the USA, during Nurse’s Week (May 6^th-12^th), National Nurse’s Day and Student Nurse’s Day celebrations are also held.” READ MORE…