International Nurses Day 2020 is one to remember.
Each year on May 12, International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world, but without a doubt the one we’re living today will be one of the most noted occasions of all time. In what is the bicentennial of the birth of Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) – considered the forerunner of modern professional nursing – we may not be able to do a huge amount to celebrate it, but we’re feeling more gratitude than ever.
The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown into sharp relief the invaluable work and the constant struggle that nurses carry out every day, being some of the true unsung heroes of the pandemic. Battling exhaustion, PPE shortages, and a highly stressful working environment, they’ve been one of the crucial parts of the NHS system in helping to treat patients and keep the virus numbers down.
Today more than ever we must be aware of the importance and need of their work, and in this sense, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) requests help and resources so that “never again are we so poorly prepared in the world for a pandemic”. Just as Banksy did a few days ago with a work in which he honoured the work of nurses, there’s only one thing left to say from us: thank you.