Description

Why In News?

International Nurses Day is celebrated annually on May 12.

About International Nurses Day 2026

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) organizes International Nurses Day (IND) globally on 12 May every year.
The day commemorates the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the pioneer of modern nursing and a key figure in healthcare reform.
The Government of India instituted the National Florence Nightingale Awards in 1973 to recognize the meritorious and selfless services that nurses render to society.

Theme for 2026

The ICN designated “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives” as the official theme for 2026.
The ICN highlights Seven Powers of Empowered Nurses that transform health systems: the power of Trust, Professionalism, Numbers, Practice, Care, Proximity, and Peace (especially protecting health security in conflict-affected regions).

About Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale (1820–1910) earned the title “The Lady with the Lamp” because she spent many hours conducting nightly rounds to treat wounded British soldiers during the Crimean War (1853–1856).
She implemented sanitary reforms at the Scutari Hospital, slashing the mortality rate from 42% to 2%.
She established the world's first secular nursing school, the Nightingale Training School, at St. Thomas' Hospital, London in 1860.
She authored the “Notes on Nursing” in 1859, also became the first woman to receive the prestigious Order of Merit from the British monarch in 1907.

Source: NEWS18

Attempt Daily Quiz

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. With reference to Florence Nightingale and the history of modern nursing, consider the following statements:

She is credited with organizing care for the sick and wounded during the Crimean War, where she earned the title "The Lady with the Lamp".
She established the first secular nursing school, the Nightingale Training School, at St. Thomas' Hospital in London.
International Nurses Day is observed on her birth anniversary, May 12, organized by the World Health Organization.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A) 1 and 2 only

B) 2 and 3 only

C) 1 and 3 only

D) 1, 2, and 3

Answer: A

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Florence Nightingale rose to prominence during the Crimean War (1853–1856), where she organized care for wounded soldiers at the Barrack Hospital in Scutari. Her habit of making nightly rounds to check on patients earned her the famous nickname "The Lady with the Lamp".

Statement 2 is correct: In 1860, she established the Nightingale Training School at St. Thomas' Hospital in London. It is recognized as the first secular nursing school in the world, marking the transition of nursing into a formal, scientifically-based profession.

Statement 3 is incorrect: International Nurses Day is observed on May 12 to commemorate her birth anniversary; it is organized by the International Council of Nurses (ICN), not the World Health Organization (WHO).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

International Nurses Day is observed globally on May 12 every year to mark the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Organized by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) since 1965, the day honors the vital contributions of nurses to patient care, public health, and healthcare systems.

The theme for 2026 is "Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives.". This theme highlights the urgent need to empower nurses through safe working conditions, fair pay, leadership opportunities, and full scope of practice to maximize their life-saving impact on global health.

Florence Nightingale was a British statistician, nurse, and social reformer who pioneered modern nursing during the Crimean War. She earned the nickname "The Lady with the Lamp" because she would spend many hours making nightly rounds in the hospital wards to care for wounded and sick soldiers, carrying a lamp in her hand.