{{Short description|Observance to mark the contributions nurses make to society}}{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}} {{more citations needed|date=May 2017}} {{Infobox holiday |holiday_name = International Nurses Day |type = |image = Nursing students.jpg |imagesize = |caption = Czech nursing students (2006) |official_name = |nickname = ICN |observedby = Various countries |litcolor = |longtype = |significance = |firsttime = 1965 |ends = |date = 12 May |scheduling = same day each year |duration = 1 day |frequency = annual |celebrations = |observances = |relatedto = }}
'''International Nurses Day''' ('''IND''') is an international day observed around the world on 12 May (the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth) each year, to mark the contributions that nurses make to society.<ref>{{cite web|title=International Nurses Day |url=https://www.icn.ch/what-we-do/campaigns/international-nurses-day |publisher=International Council of Nurses |access-date=10 May 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130519044608/http://www.icn.ch/publications/international-nurses-day/ |archive-date=19 May 2013 }}</ref>
==Background== The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has celebrated this day since 1965. In 1953 Dorothy Sutherland, an official with the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, proposed that President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaim a "Nurses' Day"; but he did not approve it.
In January 1974, 12 May was chosen to celebrate the day as it is the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Chung|first1=King-Thom|title=Women Pioneers of Medical Research: Biographies of 25 Outstanding Scientists. Chapter 2. Florence Nightingale (1820–1910). Founder of Modern Nursing|date=2009|publisher=McFarland|page=16}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Florence Nightingale: the medical superstar|url=http://www.express.co.uk/expressyourself/170640/Florence-Nightingale-the-medical-superstar|publisher=Daily Express|date=12 May 2016}}</ref> Each year, ICN prepares and distributes the International Nurses' Day Kit.<ref name="Kit" /> The kit contains educational and public information materials, for use by nurses everywhere. As of 1998, 8 May was designated as annual National Student Nurses' Day in the US.
==Themes== The themes for International Nurses Day have been: {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ ! Year !! Theme !! Ref. |- | 1988 || Safe Motherhood || <ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=International Nurses Day |url=http://www.icn.ch/indkit_themes.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209100339/http://www.icn.ch/indkit_themes.htm |archive-date=9 December 2006 |access-date=2 December 2006 |work=International Council of Nurses}}</ref> |- | 1989 || School Health || <ref name=":0" /> |- | 1990 || Nurses and Environment || <ref name=":0" /> |- | 1991 || Mental Health – Nurses in Action || <ref name=":0" /> |- | 1992 || Healthy Aging || <ref name=":0" /> |- | 1993 || Quality, costs and Nursing || <ref name=":0" /> |- | 1994 || Healthy Families for Healthy Nation || <ref name=":0" /> |- | 1995 || Women's Health: Nurses Pave the Way || <ref name=":0" /> |- | 1996 || Better Health through Nursing Research || <ref name=":0" /> |- | 1997 || Healthy Young People = A Brighter Future || <ref name=":0" /> |- | 1998 || Partnership for Community Health || <ref name=":0" /> |- | 1999 || Celebrating Nursing's Past, claiming the future || <ref name=":0" /> |- | 2000 || Nurses – Always there for you || <ref name=":0" /> |- | 2001 || Nurses, Always There for You: United Against Violence || <ref name=":0" /> |- | 2002 || Nurses Always There for You: Caring for Families || <ref name=":0" /> |- | 2003 || Nurses: Fighting AIDS stigma, working for all || <ref name=":0" /> |- | 2004 || Nurses: Working with the Poor; Against Poverty || <ref name=":0" /> |- | 2005 || Nurses for Patients' Safety: Targeting counterfeit medicines and substandard medication || <ref name=":0" /> |- | 2006 || Safe staffing saves lives || <ref name=":0" /> |- | 2007 || Positive practice environments: Quality workplaces = quality patient care || |- | 2008 || Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Primary Health Care and social care || |- | 2009 || Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Care Innovations || |- | 2010 || Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Chronic Care || |- | 2011 || Closing The Gap: Increasing Access and Equity || |- | 2012 || Closing The Gap: From Evidence to Action || |- | 2013 || Closing The Gap: Millennium Development Goals || |- | 2014 || Nurses: A Force for Change – A vital resource for health || |- | 2015 || Nurses: A Force for Change: Care Effective, Cost Effective || |- | 2016 || Nurses: A Force for Change: Improving Health Systems' Resilience || <ref name="Kit">{{Cite web|title=2016 – Nurses: A Force for Change: Improving health systems' resilience |url=http://www.icn.ch/publications/2016-nurses-a-force-for-change-improving-health-systems-resilience/ |website=www.icn.ch |access-date=9 February 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215223738/http://www.icn.ch/publications/2016-nurses-a-force-for-change-improving-health-systems-resilience/ |archive-date=15 February 2016 }}</ref> |- | 2017 || Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals || <ref>{{Cite web |title=International Nurses Day 2017 |url=https://www.icn.ch/international-nurses-day-2017 |access-date=2026-01-15 |website=ICN - International Council of Nurses |language=en}}</ref> |- | 2018 || Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Health is a Human right || <ref>{{Cite web |title=International Nurses Day 2018 |url=https://www.icn.ch/international-nurses-day-2018 |access-date=2026-01-15 |website=ICN - International Council of Nurses |language=en}}</ref> |- | 2019 || Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Health for All || <ref>{{Cite web |title=International Nurses Day 2019 |url=https://www.icn.ch/international-nurses-day-2019 |access-date=2026-01-15 |website=ICN - International Council of Nurses |language=en}}</ref> |- | 2020 || Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Nursing the World to Health || <ref>{{Cite web |date=11 May 2020 |title=Happy international Nurses Day |url=https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/11-05-2020-happy-international-nurses-day |access-date=16 January 2026 |website=WHO}}</ref> |- | 2021 || Nurses: A Voice to Lead - A Vision for Future Healthcare || <ref>{{Cite web |title=International Nurses Day 2021 |url=https://www.icn.ch/international-nurses-day-2021 |access-date=2026-01-15 |website=ICN - International Council of Nurses |language=en}}</ref> |- | 2022 || Nurses: Make a Difference || <ref>{{Cite web |title=International Nurses Day 2022 |url=https://www.icn.ch/international-nurses-day-2022 |access-date=2026-01-15 |website=ICN - International Council of Nurses |language=en}}</ref> |- | 2023 || Our Nurses. Our Future. || <ref>{{Cite web |title=International Nurses Day 2023 |url=https://www.icn.ch/international-nurses-day-2023 |access-date=2026-01-15 |website=ICN - International Council of Nurses |language=en}}</ref> |- | 2024 || Our Nurses, Our Future: The Economic Power of Care. || <ref>{{Cite web |title=International Nurses Day 2024 |url=https://www.icn.ch/how-we-do-it/campaigns/international-nurses-day/international-nurses-day-2024 |access-date=2026-01-15 |website=ICN - International Council of Nurses |language=en}}</ref> |- | 2025 || Our Nurses, Our Future: Caring for nurses strengthens economies. || <ref>{{Cite web |title=International Nurses Day |url=https://www.icn.ch/how-we-do-it/campaigns/international-nurses-day |access-date=2026-01-15 |website=ICN - International Council of Nurses |language=en}}</ref> |- |2026 |Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives. |<ref>{{Cite web |title=ICN’s call for International Nurses Day 2026: empower nurses to save lives |url=https://www.icn.ch/news/icns-call-international-nurses-day-2026-empower-nurses-save-lives |access-date=2026-05-12 |website=ICN - International Council of Nurses |language=en}}</ref> |}
== National activities ==
=== Australia === The Australian Nurse of the Year is announced at a ceremony at one of the state capital cities. Additionally, in each of the Australian states and territories, various nursing award ceremonies are conducted during the week.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 May 2020 |title=International Nurses Day 2020 |url=https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/international-nurses-day-2020 |access-date=16 January 2026 |website=health.gov.au}}</ref>
=== China === In 2007, 5000 nurses gathered in Yichun, East China's Jiangxi Province.<ref>{{Cite web|title=International Nurses Day – china.org.cn |url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/health/210571.htm |website=www.china.org.cn |access-date=9 February 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150515061437/http://www.china.org.cn/english/health/210571.htm |archive-date=15 May 2015 }}</ref>
=== Ireland === Since 2012, Nurse Jobs Ireland (an Irish nurse recruitment agency) launch a week long pro-bono campaign to celebrate nurses on the 6–12 May every year. This week long celebration uses digital platforms such as Twitter and Facebook to promote the great work nurses do using the hashtag #CelebrateNurses. The public leave their positive comments and thanks on the ''Celebrate Nurses'' website where they are collated into an ebook which is shared in medical facilities throughout Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clinton |first=Orlaith |date=10 May 2020 |title=International Nurses Day to be marked with special 'shine a light' tribute |url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/international-nurses-day-marked-special-18228714 |access-date=16 January 2026 |website=belfastlive}}</ref>
=== Singapore === Singapore celebrates Nurses Day on 1 August.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_499_2004-12-30.html|title=Nurses Day {{!}} Infopedia|last=Singapore|first=National Library Board|website=eresources.nlb.gov.sg|access-date=2017-08-01}}</ref> Back in the 1800s, a thriving Singapore found itself in need of providing better healthcare and medical services to a growing population. While there were several hospitals, there was a lack of nurses to support the doctors. French nuns from the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus were trained to become nurses to fulfil this need, as they were seen as the only educated European women in Singapore who could undertake this challenge. 1 August 1885 marks the beginning of the development of nursing in Singapore when these nuns began their nursing duties in the General Hospital at the Sepoy Lines in the Outram area.<ref>{{Cite book |title=More than a calling : nursing in Singapore since 1885. |date=1997 |publisher=Ministry of Health |others=Singapore. Ministry of Health |isbn=9971-88-574-3 |location=Singapore |oclc=222309929}}</ref>
===Taiwan=== In 2003, after the outbreak of highly contagious SARS, President Chen Shui-bian visited a hospital on International Nurses Day to express admiration for 3 nurses who died of SARS, among other medical personnel fighting on the frontline. He conveyed wishes to nurses for their devotion to duty of caring and reminded hospital staff that they should adopt strict precautionary measures to protect themselves before contacting with patients.<ref>{{Cite web|title=President Chen Inspects the Quarantine Wards of Taipei Veterans General Hospital |url=https://english.president.gov.tw/NEWS/220 |website=Office of the President of Taiwan |date=12 May 2003 |access-date=29 May 2018 }}</ref> [[File:05.12 總統出席「106年國際護師節聯合慶祝大會」，與傑出護理人員獲獎者一同合影 (34608299625).jpg|thumb|President Tsai Ing-wen, with the Minister of Health and Welfare, attends International Nurses Day celebration]]
===Thailand=== Starting in 1990, Thailand observes 21 October as National Nurses' Day {{lang|th|วันพยาบาลแห่งชาติ}} (Wan Phayaban Haeng Chat). The date commemorates the birth of Srinagarindra the Princess Mother and was adopted 4 April 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cabinet.soc.go.th/soc/Program2-3.jsp?top_serl=119564|title=เรื่อง วันพยาบาลแห่งชาติ|work=Secretariat of the Cabinet website|language=th|access-date=1 June 2019}}</ref>
=== United Kingdom === Each year a service is held in Westminster Abbey in London. During the service, a symbolic lamp is taken from The Nurses' Chapel in the Abbey and handed from one nurse to another, thence to the Dean, who places it on the High Altar.{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}}
=== United States and Canada (National Nursing Week) === [[File:President Trump Welcomes Heath Care and Nursing Association Representatives to the White House (49866369328).jpg|thumb|US President Donald Trump signs a proclamation in honor of National Nurses Day in May 2020]] The U.S. celebrates National Nursing Week each year from 6 May to 12 May (the birthday of Florence Nightingale). Canada celebrates National Nursing Week each year during the week that includes 12 May. The Canadian Minister of Health instituted National Nursing Week in Canada in 1985.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 May 2020 |title=International Nurses Day 2020: Know history, theme and significance of Florence Nightingale's birth anniversary |url=https://www.thedailyjagran.com/lifestyle/international-nurses-day-2020-know-history-theme-and-significance-of-florence-nightingales-birth-anniversary-10011701 |access-date=16 January 2026 |website=Jagran}}</ref>
=== Vietnam === Since 1990s, Nurses have recognized the international nurse day. Officially, Viet Duc University Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam, The Board of Director approved anniversary of international nurse day on May 12, 2015. Since 2018 Department of Health issues, the first announcement encourages all health care hospital and facility host event or meeting for the international nurse day all over of Vietnam.{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}}
=== Iran === After the Iranian revolution, the birthday of Zaynab bint Ali was designated as Nurses' Day.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 February 2025 |title=Iranian Nurses Day |url=https://pezeshkan.org/events/nurses-day/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251010130251/https://pezeshkan.org/events/nurses-day/ |archive-date=10 October 2025 |access-date=16 January 2026 |website=pezeshkan.org}}</ref> ==See also== * Florence Nightingale * Florence Nightingale Medal * National Student Nurses Day * The New York Times
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[https://www.icn.ch/what-we-do/campaigns/international-nurses-day International Nurses Day] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512070819/https://www.icn.ch/what-we-do/campaigns/international-nurses-day |date=12 May 2022 }} * [https://www.icn.ch/how-we-do-it/campaigns/international-nurses-day IND] International Council of Nurses at ICN {{Authority control}} {{Nursing}} Category:Nursing Category:Recurring events established in 1965 Category:May observances Category:Health awareness days