“Nurses: A Voice to Lead – A vision for future healthcare” 

The global COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the vital part nurses play in keeping patients safe throughout their lives. This day commemorates the birth of Florence Nightingale. It is observed to recognize the importance of nurses worldwide and to honour them for their relentless efforts and contributions to the healthcare system. They are the first to help a person in need, and their compassion, consideration, and respectful treatment are undeniably important. They play a critical role in distributing health care, and their contributions through epidemics and pandemics are well recognized and respected.

Amid the horrifying coronavirus pandemic, International Nurses Day brings new significance. Nurses have been:

• The backbone of clinics and hospitals.
• Caring for millions of COVID-19 patients for months at a time.
• Putting their lives in jeopardy.

International Nurses Day is a beautiful way to thank them for what they do. According to the ICN (International Council of Nurses), COVID-19 has affected over 1.6 million health professionals in 34 countries as of December 31, 2020.

The theme for International Nurses Day 2021 reflects two dynamics: the relevance of nursing leadership and nursing’s exposure to COVID-19 (IND2021). “Nurses: A Voice to Lead,” according to the International Council of Nurses (ICN), is the central theme for IND2021. “A Vision for Future Healthcare” is the sub-theme.

The sub-theme “A Vision for Future Healthcare” is about nursing leadership rising to the fore in several countries after the pandemic and the world is seeing the importance of nursing in a way it hasn’t seen before because of the pandemic’s response.

History of Nurses Day

Florence Nightingale started this custom in professional nursing. She worked hard to establish the first secular nursing school at St Thomas’ Hospital in London, which opened in 1860. This day is observed to honour her and recall all that she did for the sick and vulnerable. The Florence Nightingale Medal, the highest international honour, was named after her.

Significance of International Nurses Day

Nurses are leading the charge toward the COVID-19 pandemic. Nurses, including physicians and healthcare professionals, work tirelessly to provide high-quality services, often without taking a break. When patients are in a crisis, nurses are also the only health providers they see.

“Nurses account for more than half of all health workers worldwide, and there is an acute shortage of nurses worldwide, with 5.9 million more nurses required by 2021, particularly in low- and middle-income countries,” according to the WHO.

The aim of celebrating Nurses Day

• Nurses worldwide should be educated, given direction, and given up-to-date information about the health sector’s needs and expectations so that they do not fall behind.

• Nurses should be provided with reasonable working hours, maternity leave, mental health care, and other assistance because they are so crucial to the health sector.

• They should be provided with adequate financial aid and timely supplies of the services they need.

• All medical personnel should be handled with dignity.