International Nurses Day 12 May

I thought it would be appropriate to write my first blog at a time when we are celebrating nurses and midwives everywhere.

Last week was International Day of the Midwife, and today is International Nurses Day. On behalf of the Trust board  I would like  to take this opportunity  to  say a sincere thank  you all Midwives and Nurses in this Trust  for their dedication and hard work day after  day in often difficult and challenging circumstances. Midwives and Nurses really make a difference to  the  lives  of patients and  carers and I know that all nurses in this Trust strive to make sure  every patient  receives the highest standard of care. As Director of Nursing and Midwifery I am  incredibly proud and privileged to work alongside so many of you who demonstrate a passion  for the values of nursing and professionalism in everything they do.

John Rostill our Chief Executive shares with us in the weekly bulletin extracts from letters he receives  highlighting examples  of  where nurses have demonstrated the best  very best of nursing practice and these are only a fraction of the positive feedback  we receive, and  all Nurses in this Trust should be proud of the work they do.

I would also like to take this opportunity  to  ask you of you who read this blog  to share  with me and others any stories you might have about  where midwives and nurses have made a difference so  we can share  and celebrate the  important work that our nurses do every day.

Best Wishes

Helen

Information about International Nurses Day

Each year, on the 12th of May, nurses celebrate nursing and raise the profile of their work in a variety of ways and events. Few can say they are untouched by the hard work and dedication of nurses in the UK and throughout the world and International Nurses Day is an opportunity to learn about the work of nurses and their workplaces.

It is also a day for nurses worldwide to celebrate their profession and unite to take pride in their jobs and show the world the importance of their work.

The Origins of Nurses Day

The reason that Nurses Day is held on the 12th May each year is because this is the birth date of Florence Nightingale. She made many reforms to nursing and health care and drastically cut the death rate amongst soldiers in the Crimean War as a result of her hard work, dedication and training of fellow nurses.

Westminster Abbey Nurses Day Service

Each year, on the day that would have been her birthday, there is a service at Westminster Abbey, London to commemorate her life and celebrate the nursing profession. A lamp is taken from the Nurses' Chapel at the Abbey and handed from one nurse to the next nurse during the service. The last person the lamp is handed to is the Dean who then places the symbolic lamp onto the High Altar. This ceremony is done to signify the passing of knowledge from one nurse to another, much like Florence Nightingale did when she set up her Schools of Nursing. It also signifies her nickname The Lady of the Lamp.