Book Online2020 has been designated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the “Year of the Nurse and Midwife” in honour of the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale. Due to coronavirus 
celebrations that would have been scheduled have been unable to proceed, firstly due to the pandemic and social isolation and secondly that nurses are too busy at the front lines doing what they do best.
The week beginning 6th May is “Nurse Week” finishing on Florence Nightingales birthday 12th May. This offers us a chance to pause and reflect on the remarkable role nurses play in advancing the health and wellbeing of our society, and the leadership that has made the nursing profession what it is today. It also gives us an opportunity to look forward at what is possible and keep progressing.
Health for all means enabling access to all aspects of our physical and mental health services and ensuring no one is left behind. As nurses take the lead from Florence Nightingale, who was tireless in her mission to ensure care for the most vulnerable and poor, this is achievable.
We celebrate all nurses who work in many settings and many different roles to achieve the vision of Health for All.
To all nursing students, enrolled nurses, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse managers, educators and leaders – thank you for the work that you do. Happy International Nurses Day.