Every year on 12 May, the world marks International Nurses Day, celebrating the valuable contributions of nurses across the globe. The date commemorates the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, whose legacy continues to shape healthcare today.
The idea of recognising nurses on a global scale was first proposed in 1953 by Dorothy Sutherland of the US Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Since then, International Nurses Day has become an important moment to reflect on the vital role nurses play in caring.
Each year, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) selects a theme to highlight key priorities within the profession. The 2026 theme, “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives.”, emphasises the critical importance of supporting nurses through safe, inclusive and well-resourced working environments. This focus is especially relevant as healthcare systems worldwide continue to face increasing demand, workforce pressures and evolving patient needs.
Nursing sits at the heart of the healthcare system. It is a profession defined by skill, resilience and compassion. International Nurses Day provides an opportunity not only to celebrate these contributions, but also to recognise the challenges nurses face and the importance of investing in their wellbeing and development.
At Health Innovation East, we are committed to supporting innovation across the health and care sector. Through leading improvement initiatives and supporting patient safety programmes, we aim to improve outcomes and experiences for all stakeholders in healthcare including nurses, clinicians, patients and carers.
Amanda Farewell, Senior Improvement Lead at Health Innovation East and a former nurse, reflects on her experience:
“Being a nurse from my perspective is a huge privilege. You get to look after patients when they are at their most vulnerable whether you are providing personal care or having sensitive personal conversations. Patients and their loved one’s place trust in you to do your best in making them better.
My most memorable experiences as a nurse are not the heroic lifesaving ones, but the times where I’ve had time with patients, listening to their life stories and worries, made them feel comfortable and cared for.
Giving someone your time is a precious thing; it’s all a person wants when they are feeling poorly and alone in a hospital bed. The more time spent with a patient, talking to them, caring for them, and listening to them is the most rewarding part of nursing that makes the biggest difference to people’s lives.”
Today, we recognise and thank nurses everywhere. Their expertise, compassion and perseverance makes a difference to millions of lives every day.
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