International Nurses Day - Tuesday 12 May

Published: 11 May 2009

Celebrating Queensland’s nursing & midwifery history
Major breakfast in Brisbane tomorrow & celebrations at health and aged care facilities around the State

Nurses and their local communities throughout Queensland will celebrate International Nurses Day (IND) tomorrow, Tuesday 12 May 2009.

As Queensland celebrates its 150years of existence, this year’s theme is Celebrating Queensland Nursing and Midwifery History.

The highlight of International Nurses Day 2009 celebrations in Queensland is a major breakfast, hosted by the Queensland Nurses Union (QNU) and Queensland Nursing Council, at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre tomorrow morning.

QNU secretary, Gay Hawksworth, said International Nurses Day gives the general public and nurses, in every city, suburb and town across Queensland, a chance each year to reflect on the vital work nurses do in the community.

“This special day is a chance to recall and celebrate the magnificent contribution hundreds of thousands of nurses and midwives have made to Queensland over the last 150 years and the importance of nursing and midwifery to our personal and social well-being – in the past, the present and the future.

“In hospitals, health facilities, community health, disability and aged care settings throughout the State nurses and midwives are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to provide care for the sick, injured and elderly. That is again something to celebrate.

“This year’s theme reminds us of how central nurses have been, and still are, to the provision of healthcare in Queensland.

“International Nurses Day is also a chance to focus again on the QNU’s Nurses. For You. For Life. campaign, which is aimed at finally forcing governments and health and aged care employers to properly address the nurse and midwife shortage before shortages reach crisis levels in the next few years. It is estimated that Queensland alone will require an extra 14,000 nurses and midwives by 2014.

“Without sufficient nurses and midwives healthcare would look very different and quality health care is compromised. That is why everything possible should be done to keep experienced nurses and midwives and to get more people to take up a nursing and midwifery career.

“So while we celebrate the important contribution nurses and midwives have and do make to Queensland, it is important to also reflect on what still remains to be done to keep that vital work going.

“It has been a case of Nurses. For You. For Life. for the last 150 years. Tomorrow let’s commit to ensuring it is also Nurses. For You. For Life. for the next 150 years,” Ms Hawksworth said.

There are about 57,000 registered and enrolled (about 48,000 registered and 9000 enrolled) nurses and midwives registered with the Queensland Nursing Council. Queensland also has an estimated 10,000 assistants in nursing. International Nurses Day is celebrated annually on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birthday – May 12.

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