Every year on May 12, the world pauses to celebrate International Nurses Day, which coincides with the birthday of Florence Nightingale, widely regarded as the founder of modern nursing. This day is not only an opportunity to honour the nursing profession but also to acknowledge the profound and enduring impact nurses have on healing.
The day was officially established by the International Council of Nurses in 1974, although its origins can be traced back to 1953, when the initial proposal to recognise nurses was presented to the US Department of Health.
In healthcare facilities worldwide, nurses demonstrate remarkable leadership every day. They do much more than provide bedside care; they are present during moments of anxiety and recovery, times of uncertainty and hope. Nurses support patients through some of life’s most vulnerable experiences while offering reassurance to families seeking strength and comfort.
They provide dignity, patience, and emotional resilience in situations where individuals often feel most vulnerable. In short, behind every recovery, every diagnosis, and every moment of reassurance in a hospital room, there is a nurse. They are the first face a patient sees and the last voice of comfort before sleep.
During the highly contagious period of Covid-19, nurses made up the majority of the medical workforce. They faced the highest frontline exposure in overstretched hospitals, often without adequate protective equipment during the early waves and without structured mental health support afterward.
They were actively involved in the evaluation and monitoring of the community. They demonstrated great courage, flexibility, and creativity on the front lines of this fight!
As I reflect on the extraordinary period of the pandemic that gripped our planet, I am amazed by how much healthcare professionals have given and endured to keep us all alive and healthy. Their impact is both lasting and immeasurable.
I am a beneficiary of the profound care, dedication, selflessness, and compassion of the nurses when I was bedridden in a hospital in Muscat after being infected with the dreaded coronavirus. I came close to death, and I am very fortunate to be alive today thanks to the incredible care and commitment of the doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff.
Nurses contribute immensely to our lives and the lives of those we love. As they help bring new life into the world, we should celebrate them not only for the extensive range of services they provide but also for the hard work and dedication they invest to make it all possible.
According to the World Health Organisation, there are approximately 29.8 million nurses worldwide, making nursing the largest healthcare workforce. However, reports indicate a global shortage of about 5.8 million nurses, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
These figures highlight that the future of healthcare will depend not only on innovation and infrastructure but also on the effectiveness of societal investments in nursing education, workforce wellness, leadership, and professional development. It is fitting that we have a day dedicated to honouring nurses and recognising all their efforts.
At the same time, greater emphasis should be placed on the well-being of nurses through mental health support, job safety, and opportunities for continuing education. Nursing leadership must have increased representation in healthcare policy and organisational decision-making, especially as patient care becomes more multidisciplinary and technology-dependent.
Contemporary nursing increasingly intertwines with digital health, genetics, preventive care, and advanced treatments. However, despite these challenges and changes, the core of nursing remains profoundly human. This enduring spirit of nursing deserves our deepest gratitude, respect, and support every single day.
So, let us move beyond formal words of gratitude. Genuine appreciation will be demonstrated through meaningful improvements in the lives of nurses. The lamp ignited by Florence Nightingale continues to shine brightly in the hands of countless nurses today. Let us celebrate that light.
Samuel Kutty
The writer is a freelance journalist and author who worked in Oman and India
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