Last updated on December 28th, 2023
International Nurse’s Day is celebrated on the 12th of May since 1965. This day commemorates the contribution of nurses to the public.
The International Nurses Day theme for 2024 is “Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Invest in Nursing and Respect Rights to Secure Global Health.“
History of International Nurse’s Day
Initially, in 1953, Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare proposed to celebrate nurses’ day. However, the proposal was rejected by Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Later, it was officially established in January 1974 by the International Council of Nurses (ICN). They declared that May 12 would be “International Nurse Day.” Although they have been celebrating nurses’ day since 1965.
Each year International Council of Nurses releases a variety of resources to support the celebration of nurse’s day worldwide. These resources include promotional and education materials.
These materials intend to promote awareness about the nursing profession and the vital roles of nurses in health care to provide quality health services.
Also, ICN includes awareness materials highlighting the issues within the nursing profession, the impact of economic factors, and ongoing struggles against inadequate pay and work conditions.
Purpose of Celebrating Nurses Day
By celebrating a special day allows appreciating and increasing awareness about the essential role nurses play in the health care system.
In addition, it helps to identify issues within the nursing profession itself. This provides an opportunity to advance the nursing profession and keep up with ever-changing healthcare needs.
International Nurses Day Theme for 2022
Recently, the International Nursing Council has announced the theme for 2022 Nurses day. The slogan is “Nursing The World Back To Health.”
International Nurses Day Theme for 2021
This year’s theme was announced last October by the International Nursing Council.
The theme follows the past four years’ overarching theme Nurses: A Voice to Lead with the sub-theme for 2021 – A Vision for Future Healthcare.
(“Nurses: A Voice to Lead – A Vision for Future Healthcare“)
This year’s theme focuses on how nursing will look into the future. And also how the profession will transform the next stage of healthcare after current COVID pandemic.
Like previous years, ICN is releasing various materials related to this year’s theme to support the celebration of nurses day.
Recent International Nurses Day Themes
| Year | Previous International Nurse’s Day Themes |
| 2023 | Our Nurses. Our Future |
| 2022 | Nursing The World Back To Health |
| 2021 | Nurses: A Voice to Lead – A Vision for Future Healthcare |
| 2020 | Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Nursing the World to Health |
| 2019 | Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Health for All |
| 2018 | Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Health is a Human right |
| 2017 | Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals |
| 2016 | Nurses: A Force for Change: Improving Health Systems’ Resilience |
| 2015 | Nurses: A Force for Change: Care Effective, Cost Effective |
| 2014 | Nurses: A Force for Change – A vital resource for health |
| 2013 | Closing The Gap: Millennium Development Goals |
| 2012 | Closing The Gap: From Evidence to Action |
| 2011 | Closing The Gap: Increasing Access and Equity |
| 2010 | Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Chronic Care |
| 2009 | Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Care Innovations |
| 2008 | Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Primary Health Care and social care |
| 2007 | Positive practice environments: Quality workplaces = quality patient care |
| 2006 | Safe staffing saves lives |
| 2005 | Nurses for Patients’ Safety: Targeting counterfeit medicines and substandard medication |
| 2004 | Nurses: Working with the Poor; Against Poverty |
| 2003 | Nurses: Fighting AIDS stigma, working for all |
| 2002 | Nurses Always There for You: Caring for Families |
| 2001 | Nurses, Always There for You: United Against Violence |
| 2000 | Nurses – Always there for you |
| 1999 | Celebrating Nursing’s Past, claiming the future |
| 1998 | Partnership for Community Health |
| 1997 | Healthy Young People = A Brighter Future |
| 1996 | Better Health through Nursing Research |
| 1995 | Women’s Health: Nurses Pave the Way |
| 1994 | Healthy Families for Healthy Nation |
| 1993 | Quality, costs, and Nursing |
| 1992 | Healthy Aging |
| 1991 | Mental Health – Nurses in Action |
| 1990 | Nurses and Environment |
| 1989 | School Health |
| 1988 | Safe Motherhood |
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