International Nursing Day: Focus on caring heroes!

International Nursing Day: Focus on caring heroes!

International Nurses Day is celebrated annually on May 12th and this year served as a special occasion to recognize the important role of nurses. The day falls on the birthday of the British nurse Florence Nightingale, who is considered a pioneer of modern nursing and whose approaches revolutionized nursing in the long term. On this day, their legacy is not only celebrated, but also critically examined - the focus is on necessary changes in the healthcare system.

At the Hannover Medical School (MHH), the nursing staff were treated to sweet and savory treats such as hot dogs, donuts and popcorn. Nursing Director Karol Martens and Nursing Director Claudia Bredthauer were personally present to support the nurses and express their appreciation for the diverse and professional commitment in nursing. The MHH stands were well attended, and the event offered a welcome opportunity to exchange ideas during the break and find out more about various benefit offers such as company bike leasing mhh.de reported.

Florence Nightingale: pioneer of nursing

Florence Nightingale was born on May 12, 1820 and is known for her organizational improvements and hygiene standards that significantly reduced the mortality rate in military hospitals during the Crimean War. She founded the first professional nursing school, the Nightingale School of Nursing at St. Thomas' Hospital in London, where the training profession of nursing was established in 1860. Previously, the nursing community was heavily stigmatized. Born into a wealthy British family, Nightingale dedicated himself to improving educational standards against the profession's generally poor reputation. Her important writings, including the standard work “Notes of Nursing”, are still influential today. She died at the age of 90 on August 13, 1910. diakonie-hessen.de highlights that her birthday has been celebrated as International Nursing Day since 1965.

International Nursing Day also highlights fundamental challenges in the German healthcare system. According to Andreas Westerfellhaus, President of the German Nursing Council, nursing is the most important health policy issue of the decade. The growing number of people needing care services could rise to 4.5 million by 2050. This highlights the pressure the healthcare system is under and the associated demands for more staff and better working conditions in care facilities. domradio.de reports that over 30,000 nursing staff are currently missing from geriatric care and the conditions for caring relatives need to be improved.

The path to the future of care

The pandemic has intensified the discussion about the attractiveness of the nursing profession. Experts are calling for reforms that will help improve the professional profile and restructure nursing training. One proposal includes the establishment of professional chambers for nursing professionals, as has already been implemented in Rhineland-Palatinate. In addition, better compatibility of nursing and professional life as well as the necessary adjustments to the staffing ratio in inpatient care are central concerns in order to address the increasing challenges.

Overall, International Nursing Day draws attention not only to the outstanding contributions of nurses, but also to the necessary reforms in the system that are urgently needed to meet future challenges.