2020 has been designated by the World Health Organisation as the first ever International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, it is also Florence Nightingale’s bicentennial year.
Nurses and midwives make up the largest numbers of the NHS workforce. They are highly skilled, multi-faceted professionals from a host of backgrounds that represent our diverse communities. The Year of the Nurse and Midwife presents the opportunity to reflect on these roles/skills, the commitment and expert clinical care they bring, and the impact they make on the lives of so many. This year is also an opportunity to say thank you to the professions; to showcase their diverse talents and expertise; and to promote careers in nursing and midwifery.
A key focus of activity will be International Nurses Day, which is traditionally held on 12 May, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) theme for International Nurses Day 2020 is ‘Nursing the World to Health’, which it says will focus on the true value of nurses to the people of the world. Another key date will be International Day Of The Midwife 2020 on 5 May.
This toolkit aims to provide a suite of assets to support your local activity plans and provide ideas on how you can get involved. Your advocacy is key to recognising the many committed, skilled and inspirational nurses and midwives in Scotland!