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International Nurses Day 2024

Today, we celebrate the incredible contributions of nurses worldwide. This year’s theme, Our Nurses. Our Future. The economic power of care, highlights the indispensable role nurses play in healthcare globally. It’s a reminder of the urgent need to reshape perceptions about nursing and recognize its immense value.

• Did you know that nursing wasn’t recognized as a profession until 1916? Before then, it was often regarded as a low-status occupation, not needing proper education.
• Agnodice from ancient Greece, is the first recorded nurse in history. She defied societal norms by disguising herself as a man to practice medicine, as women were not allowed to back then.
• Considered the mother of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale, immortalized the nursing cap. Today it is mostly reserved for ceremonial occasions due to hygiene concerns.
• Florence Nightingale is affectionately known as the ‘lady with the lamp,’ because she used to make her nightly rounds during the Crimean War, tending to wounded solders with a lamp in her hand. This is why the lamp is the symbol of nursing.
• Nurses are no strangers to staying on their feet. On an average 12-hour shift, a nurse walks approximately 7 kilometres, sometimes even reaching up to 11 kilometres.
• These days, many nurses are embracing social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok to share insights into their profession, fostering transparency and connection with the public.
• Nurses are consistently ranked as one of the most trustworthy and ethical professions. In the United States, they’ve held the top spot for 18 consecutive years.

AINQA wishes to thank Nurses everywhere for your tireless dedication, compassion, and unwavering support. Here’s to you, our everyday heroes!