International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world every 12 May, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) commemorates this important day each year by choosing a theme and producing IND resources and evidence.
This year, ICN announced the theme for International Nurses Day 2021. Following on from previous years, the overarching theme for IND is Nurses: A Voice to Lead. The sub-theme for 2021 is A Vision for Future Healthcare.
COVID-19 has changed our lives, deeply affecting those who have been infected and those who have lost loved ones as a result of this devastating virus. The pandemic greatly impacted the lives of nurses and the health systems they serve. Although daily life may have changed, the core character of nursing has not. Now more than ever, health, economies and societies are heavily influenced by nurses who are on the frontlines battling COVID-19 whilst continuing to improve access to quality and affordable healthcare.
As a result of COVID, health systems and healthcare are under enormous strain. However, in response to this pressure, healthcare is on the brink of large-scale disruption and innovation. As the largest provider of healthcare services, nurses are leading this revolution of the healthcare system.
Nurses: A Voice to Lead – A vision for future healthcare, looks at the challenges nursing faces and how the profession will transform the next stage of healthcare.Nurses, as the largest healthcare profession, must play an integral part in planning the future of healthcare.