In the United States and Canada, an entire week is celebrated as National Nursing Week. Even in Australia, various care rituals are organized.

International-level healthcare services are targeted throughout this week. Even the American Nurses Association supports and encourages nurses' celebrations and work.

Activities such as educational seminars, community events, debates, competitions, discussions, etc. are also held.

Additionally, nurses are respected and appreciated by friends, physicians, administrators, and patients by distributing gifts and flowers, organizing dinners, etc.

International Nurses Day: Meaning

Across the world, we must maintain that nursing is the largest healthcare profession globally and a critical factor in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Multiple training modules are provided for nurses to maintain patient health and well-being.

Undoubtedly, nurses possess in-depth knowledge in providing optimal healthcare services. Did you know that the National Nurses Association (NNA) is vital in encouraging nurses and providing proper education, information, and advice to do their jobs?

In addition, NNA works with government and non-governmental organizations to strengthen health care systems.

International Nurses Day, held annually on 12th May, commemorates the birth in 1820 of Florence Nightingale, the founding philosopher of the modern nursing. The event was established in 1974 by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) to highlight nurses' critical role in healthcare.

A specific theme is chosen each year, and 2023's theme is "Our Nurses. Our Future."

International Nurses Day is celebrated worldwide every year on May 12, the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, led by the International Council of Nurses (ICN). Each year has a different theme, and 2023's theme is: "Our Nurses. Our Future."

The complete form of NURSE is nobility-understanding-responsibility-sympathy-efficiency. NURSE also represents nobility-understanding-responsibility-sympathy-efficiency. Nursing, therefore, encompasses all aspects of promoting health, preventing disease, and providing care for the sick, suffering, and dying.

The British nurse Florence Nightingale was the first nurse.

1. Empathy
2. Integrity
3. Teamwork
4. Professionalism
5. Communication
6. Critical thinking
7. Pay attention to details
8. Time management
9. Adaptability
10. Lifelong Learner

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) will highlight the economic power of nursing to create healthy people and societies and drive healthy economies on International Nurses Day (IND) 2024 under the theme: Our Nurses. Our future. The economic power of nursing.

Top 30 Nursing Facts

1. Florence Nightingale, the British nurse and statistician, is considered the mother of modern nursing for her influence on society's education and how nurses are viewed.
2. Florence Nightingale lived from the year 1820 to the year 1910; born in Italy but raised in England. 1860, she established the first science-based nursing school at St Thomas' Hospital in London, aptly named the Nightingale School of Nursing.
3. The sign of care is a light. Florence Nightingale was famous for carrying a lamp at night between the tents of sick and wounded soldiers during the Crimean War and was often called the "Lady with the Lamp."
4. Nursing caps are now commonly worn only in ceremonies, usually at the graduation ceremony of new nurses, to symbolize welcoming them into the profession. These famous hats are no longer worn because they collect microorganisms (bacteria and viruses) and become unhygienic.
5. Nursing is considered one of the most trustworthy & ethical professions in the United States. In 2020, nurses were named the #1 most dependable and honest professionals for the 18th year. The nursing profession beats out doctors, police officers, firefighters, teachers, and clergy.
6. In the United States, the 4th week of May is National Nurses Week, and May 8 is Student Nurse Day. May 12 is Florence Nightingale's birthday and also International Nurses Day.
7. Nurses walk an average of 4-5 miles every 12-hour shift. By comparison, most Americans walk only two to three miles in an 18-hour day.
8. The most common workplace injuries nurses report are back pain and injuries from lifting patients.
9. The first nursing school in the USA was established in 1873 in New York City. The nursing program at Bellevue City Hospital is a one-year program based on the nursing principles developed by Florence Nightingale. A nursing program at New England Hospital for Women and Children opened soon after.
10. About 40% of nurses do not work in hospitals. In addition to hospitals, other places where nurses work include outpatient clinics, schools, home health clinics, insurance companies, law offices, health departments, occupational health clinics, nursing and long-term care centers, and telemedicine centers.
11. Nurses can work in almost any healthcare profession, with 104 specialties available. Nurses can be found in critical care, mental health, obstetrics, surgery, particular surgery, pediatrics, infusion centers, and wound care.
12. Nurses may work in other professions that could be more focused on patient care. Other popular industries include health insurance, writing, business, and informatics.
13. All nurses must pass the NCLEX to practice as a registered nurse. This exam is standardized in all U.S. states and assesses basic practical abilities.
14. The NCLEX exam is different for everyone. Exam length may range from 75 to 265 questions, chosen from thousands of questions.
15. As of October 2020, the NCLEX pass rate is 74.73%.
16. There are over 996 bachelor's degrees in nursing programs in the United States.
17. The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in Baltimore, Maryland, is consistently ranked as having the No. 1 in the USA's MSN, DNP, and online nursing programs.
18. Nurses can also work in the law firms! Registered and advanced practice nurses can earn legal nurse consultant certification and work with attorneys as part of a litigation team. Legal nurse consultants may also work with many law firms as independent contractors. These nurses serve as expert witnesses and also review the medical charts.
19. Nurses can join the military. The U.S. Army Nurse Corps was established in 1901 as part of the USA Medical Department.
20. During World War II, more than 59,500 nurses served in the United States Army Nurses Corps.
21. Most women (90%) who served in the Vietnam War were Army and Navy nurses.
22. Nurses may also serve in the Navy and Air Force branches of the United States Armed Forces.
23. Registered nurses can have a bachelor's degree (BSN) or an associate's degree (ADN). However, according to a 2018 AACN survey, 46% of employers require newly hired nurses to have a bachelor's degree.
24. Registered nurse salaries depend on various factors and also vary from country to country. A nurse's salary depends mainly on experience, location, job specialty, shifts, education level (BSN vs. AND), and any special certifications earned.
25. As of 2020, California is the highest-paying state for nurses, with an average hourly wage of $54.45 and an average annual salary of $113,240. South Dakota is the lowest-wage state, with an average hourly wage of $28.65 and an average yearly wage of $59,540.
26. more than three times as many nurses as doctors in the United States.
27. Nurses can earn two types of doctoral degrees: the Doctor of Nursing Practice-DNP or the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The DNP degree focuses on nursing practice and is typically earned by licensed practical nurses. Doctoral degrees have a research and philosophy focus and are usually made by nurses who want to teach nursing and conduct research at various levels.
28. Registered nurses can become advanced practitioners, see patients, make medical diagnoses, and prescribe medications. Advanced practice nurses (APNs) must earn a master's degree and pass a qualifying exam to become licensed.
29. Till August 2020, there were more than 290,500 licensed practical nurses in the United States. Of these, 89.7% work in primary care.