Happy Nurses Week! Let’s take a quick look at why we
celebrate nurses every where.
In
1971, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) designated May 12 – Florence
Nightingale’s birthday – as International Nurses Day. In 1985, in recognition
of the dedication and achievements of the nursing profession, the Canadian
minister of health proclaimed the second week of May as National Nursing Week
in Canada.
Nightingale
is best known around the world as the “Lady with the Lamp” who nursed British
soldiers during the Crimean War and turned nursing into a profession. But she
was also much more than that.
She was
an activist, social theorist and author who’s advocacy to improve health and
sanitation for British Army soldiers, and writings on hospital planning and
organization laid the foundation for nursing’s emphasis on social determinants
of health today. Nightingale published more than 200 books, reports and pamphlets.
Nursing
Week gives nurses across the world the chance to celebrate the work they do to
keep Nightingale’s work alive by advocating for policies that keep people
healthy, and care for them when they’re ill. Nursing is a calling born of a
caring generous and loving spirit that can neither be supressed, ignored,
retired or forgotten. It champions much with determination and vigour, yet is
as soft as the touch of a hand.
Please
take every opportunity this week to say thank you to our nurses for
their selfless giving and healing hands and hearts.
David Fillekes, Reg.N,
Director of
Clinical Services/Chief Nursing Executive,
South Huron Hospital Association
