International Nurses Day 2021: This year’s theme, history, and how you can show support

Happy Nurses Day!

International Nurses Day is celebrated on May 12 each year, it coincides with the birth of Florence Nightingale and it's an opportunity to honour and show appreciation for our nurses here in Ireland and around the world. The theme for this year's International Nurses Day is Nurses: A Voice to Lead-A Vision for Future Healthcare. In 2021, the International Council of Nurses is seeking to show how nursing will look into the future as well as how the profession will transform the next stage of healthcare. As we all know, like other healthcare workers, nurses have been on the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic, and now more than ever, they play a crucial role in the well-being of people across the globe. The theme for the day reflects ICN’s commitment for action to strengthen and improve health systems around the world. According to the ICN’s President Annette Kennedy said: “This year we celebrate International Nurses Day and pay tribute to the world’s 27 million nurses who have shown exceptional courage, compassion, competence and leadership skills in the face of the pandemic. They have saved many lives but sadly thousands of them have sacrificed their lives. We remember them today and always. ICN research suggests that 80% of nurses are suffering mental health issues, burn-out, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and COVID related violence and that 13 million nurses will be needed to fill the global nursing shortages in the next few years." History of International Nurses Day.  The celebration of International Nurses Day stretches all the way back to 1965 when the International Council of Nurses marked the occasion of the birth date of Florence Nightingale. Nightingale was an English nurse who during the Crimean war, gained fame while serving as a manager and trainer of nurses. She became an icon and a pillar of modern nursing and continues to inspire nurses across the globe. What can you do?  Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, nurses have been risking their lives on a daily basis while many of us have simply been asked to stay at home. It's a selfless job and on International Nurses Day, we're encouraging you to reach out and show your appreciation to the nurses in your life. Whether it's through a text message, a simple card, or even a Gif that makes absolutely no sense. Acknowledge the work that they do and simply thank them for their efforts. You never know, it could be exactly what they need.