International Nurses Day will be celebrated globally on May 12th.

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has celebrated International Nurses day on May 12th since 1965, the date was chosen as it coincides with the birth date of Florence Nightingale, founder of modern nursing.

The ICN is a federation of more than 130 national nurse associations and representing over 16 million nurses worldwide. It was setup in 1899 to be the first and widest reaching international organisation

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation of more than 130 national nurse associations (NNAs), representing more than 16 million nurses worldwide.  Founded in 1899, ICN is the world’s first and widest reaching organisation for healthcare professionals.

International Nurses Day now shares a week of nursing led days in May. Last week International Midwife’s day was celebrated, along with International Student Nurses day and International School Nurses Day.

Leading nurses from all over the world operate the council, ensuring that nursing care, health policies and the advancement of knowledge are taken care of all over the world.

Florence Nightingale

They chose Florence Nightingale’s birth date for International Nursing Day because she founded much of what modern nursing is today. As well as having a significant impact on aiding soldiers during the Crimean War, Nightingale founded the first nursing school at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.

On International Nurses Day a kit is distributed around the world by the ICN, which contains educational and public information materials for nurses worldwide. This years theme is Nurses: A Force for Change: Care Effective, Cost Effective.

Along with a poster, this year’s kit includes downloadable documents for use by individual nurses, associations, health ministries and health institutions. The idea is that this year, cost effective and care effective should be spread throughout the year and not just on International Nurses Day itself.

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