Each year, International Nurses Day is celebrated on May 12th in honor of Florence Nightingale’s birth (today would have been her 205th birthday!). Florence is considered the founder of modern nursing and is credited with significantly improving conditions in military hospitals, reducing mortality rates, and establishing standards for patient care and nursing education. She is also known for her contributions to the field of statistics. Because of Florence, we have much of the nursing system we do today. This year's theme for International Nurses Day is “Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies.” This theme highlights the importance of supporting nurses, not only for the critical role they play in our healthcare systems, but also for their role in healthcare education, research, and support of the broader economy. Having a strong nursing workforce helps provide economic benefits through local employment and by helping to create overall healthier populations.
Nurses are indispensable. They provide care and compassion to patients during their most vulnerable moments. Often sacrificing their own needs, nurses work tirelessly to provide the best possible care for their patients. In addition to this, they are the backbone of healthcare systems worldwide, contributing significantly to disease prevention, health promotion, and education. Despite their hard work, they often lack the recognition they deserve.
Celebrating International Nurses Day is an opportunity for patients, doctors, hospital staff, and colleagues to show appreciation for everything that nurses do. It's a chance to highlight and celebrate nurses for their dedication and resilience, and acknowledge the profound impact they have on our lives and communities.
This year, at Oliver, we are celebrating nurses by donating care packages to one of our local hospitals. Oliver Cares, Oliver’s volunteer group, collected donations throughout the month of April to create a total of 90 care packages. A small thank you to recognize nurses for all they do!