Nurses' Day 2022 UK: Join the celebration with a message of thanks
Nurses' Day 2022 in the UK is celebrated on 12th May. It's a chance to take a moment to appreciate the incredible work of the unsung heroes of the nursing profession, and for nurses to come together to celebrate all they have achieved. Read on to find out more about this wonderful event, and how you can join the celebration by sending a message of thanks.
Why do we celebrate Nurses' Day?
Nurses' Day, championed in the UK by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), was created to celebrate the incredible contribution that members of the nursing profession make to society and the well-being of the public. It's a time when people have the opportunity to say thank you to nurses who have had an impact on their lives, and for healthcare leaders to show their appreciation for their dedicated nursing staff who go above and beyond.
Nurses' Day 2022 in the UK is important because it reminds people how hard nurses work and how crucial it is that their hard work is recognised and supported - never more so than over the past two years of the pandemic. Dedicating a special day to our nursing heroes of the front line emphasises the importance of nurses' well-being, sense of belonging and self-worth, in what is a very challenging profession.
Why is 12th May celebrated as Nurses' Day?
Nurse's Day is celebrated every year on the 12th May because this marks the birthday of Florence Nightingale - the founder of modern day nursing. Although celebrated by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) since 1965, Nurses' Day was moved to this date in 1974 to remember Florence Nightingale's impact on nursing, and the ongoing contributions to nursing made every day. Today it is celebrated in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and many more countries as part of a wider National Nurses Week. This often involves organisations showing their appreciation by offering discounts and special deals to healthcare professionals, as well as special recognition for Student Nurse Day on 8th May.
Each country has its own way of celebrating, for example, Nurses' Day in the UK involves a service held at Westminster Abbey, during which a lamp is symbolically passed from one nurse to another to commemorate Florence Nightingale.
What is the theme for Nurses Day 2022?
The theme of this year's National Nurses Week is: Nurses: A Voice to Lead - invest in nursing and respect rights to secure global health. This theme aims to focus on and emphasise the importance of protecting and supporting nurses by building a resilient workforce and investing in nursing.
How to celebrate Nurses' Day in the UK?
Patients saying thank you
Have you received support from a special nurse who made a big difference to your life? Then a fantastic way to get involved in Nurses' Day is to send a nurse a thank you message! TAP makes this really easy - all you need to do is provide a few details of who you want to thank, write your message, and TAP will do the rest! Find out how to write a message of thanks here, either privately, or using our public thanking wall. There is an important connection between gratitude and happiness, so this small gesture can have a big impact, both on you, and on the nurse being thanked.
Nurses celebrating each other
Are you a nursing professional who wants to say thank you to your colleagues or team? Then why not foster a culture of gratitude in your workplace, by creating your own thanking wall? Thanking walls are an effective way to boost morale and improve nurses' well-being with heartfelt messages from the public, and from colleagues, and raise funds for good causes at the same time. It's really quick and easy for healthcare organisations to set up a thanking wall here - it's a space for you and your colleagues to go to see what a difference you make to people's lives. Reading messages of praise is not only a wonderful way to celebrate Nurses' Day here in the UK, it also shows nurses that their work is valued and appreciated by everyone. Organisations can also find out more about becoming TAP partners or TAP supporters here.
Nurses' Day resources
For nurses themselves, Nurses' Day is a wonderful opportunity to come together and celebrate both individual and team achievements. The RCN are urging nurses to share their #BestOfNursing stories on social media, and have downloadable materials to help raise awareness of this important day - take a look at the RCN's Nurses' Day 2022 UK campaign page here.
Educational publisher Twinkl also have some wonderful resources to help teachers incorporate Nurses' Day 2022 into lessons at school, and for parents to use at home with their children. You can find out more about these Nurses' Day 2022 resources here.
Although incredibly rewarding, there is no doubt that nursing is a tough profession that includes lots of hard work that often goes unnoticed or unappreciated. And often there are barriers to saying thank you, which make it difficult for nurses to hear those messages of thanks which would make a real difference to their day - and that's where TAP can help. So, help us spread words of praise by joining in the Nurses' Day 2022 UK celebrations and send a much-needed message of appreciation to nurses everywhere.