QNU Press Release - May 2005

• International Nurses Day - Thursday, 12 May

11 May 2005

Nurses and their local communities around Queensland will celebrate International Nurses Day tomorrow Thursday, 12 May. This year’s QNU theme is Safe Nurses Equals Safe Patients.

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

“It is a chance to recall and celebrate the magnificent contribution hundreds of thousands of nurses have made to Queensland over the years and the importance of nursing to everyone’s personal and social well-being – both now and in the future.

“This years theme – Patient Safety – is a timely reminder that a safe work environment, achieved through such things as reasonable workload levels and good occupational health and safety systems, is necessary to quality nursing care.

“In hospitals, health facilities and community health settings throughout the State nurses are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to provide care for the sick, injured and elderly. If they are able to do this work safely then better patient care is achieved,” Ms Hawksworth said.

There are nearly 50,000 registered and enrolled nurses registered with the Queensland Nursing Council. Queensland also has about 5,000 assistants in nursing. International Nurses Day is celebrated annually on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birthday – May 12.

EDITORS/CHIEFS-OF-STAFF PLEASE NOTE

A special International Nurses Day breakfast is being held at the Carlton Crest Hotel, Brisbane tomorrow. It starts at 7.30am and media outlets are welcome to cover the event.

Celebrations are also being held in hospitals, nursing homes and other health facilities around the State. Local nurses, hospital and health-care officials should be able to provide you with information on the diverse work being done by nurses in your region.