Nurses Day

By Our Special Correspondent

It all began in 1953, when Dorothy Sutherland, an official with the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, contacted President Dwight D. Eisenhower proposing he proclaim a “Nurses’ Day”. However, he did not approve her proposal at that time. The International Council of Nurses has celebrated on May 12th since 1965.

May 12th is an important date to all nurses, as it is the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, who is widely considered the founder of modern nursing. In January 1974, this day was finally officially made International Nurses Day. Each year since then, ICN prepares and distributes something called the International Nurses’ Day Kit which contains educational and public information materials, for use by nurses everywhere.

There is a different theme that is attributed to International Nurses Day every year. We would recommend taking a look at the theme, as this will give you a better understanding of the focus and could even help you to decide what you are going to do to celebrate International Nurses Day. For example, one of the recent themes was “Nursing the world to health.”

We are not the same after tending to covid patients: P Maneesha, a 32-year-old nurse at the Government General Hospital here, was relieved of COVID-19 duties months ago. During the peak first and second waves, she was attending to patients who kept flowing into the ward. Months later, the fearsome memories of peak COVID days keep gushing back, giving her sleepless nights. All through these months, she has been battling insomnia. "I witnessed people, some very young, who had tested positive for corona virus. The fear of whether they would pull through was very visible in their eyes.

Going down the memory lane, Maneesha said the initial COVID days were hard. "Everything was new - long hours, heavy work stress, fatigue, the uncomfortable extended hours in personal protection equipment and staying away from family for long to insulate them. After the pandemic had ebbed, the medical community -- the front-line warriors -- realized what they meant to the society. "We got recognition and most importantly, respect.

They were also in the forefront during the vaccination drive, inoculating and providing a protective cover to people against the deadly virus that almost brought the world to its knees. For nurse Neerja, the days of peak COVID was an emotional roller-coaster ride. "We worked three shifts daily for months. The tough experience made them tougher, stronger and more resolute. "It made us understand our limits. Realising our strengths and weaknesses helped us march on with confidence.