The International Council of Nurses has this year used International Nurses Day to offer advice on the issue of health systems resilience; which they define as the ability to prepare for and effectively respond to crises.

International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world every May 12, on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth.

The International Council of Nurses commemorates the day with the production of the International Nurses' Day (IND) Kit.

The IND Kit 2016 contains educational and public information materials, for use by nurses and this year focuses on improving health systems resilience.

The IND Kit 2016, entitled Nurses: A Force for Change: Improving health systems' resilience, aims to help individual nurses, associations, health ministries and health institutions by publishing a range of documents for public use.

Royal College of Nursing has also thrown their weight behind International Nurses Day, by urging patients and their families to say thank you to the nurses who have touched their lives.

Speaking today Janet Davies, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the RCN, said: “Nurses’ Day is one of my favourite days of the year, as it gives everyone the chance to celebrate the thousands of dedicated nurses from all over the world.

“This Nurses’ Day is a doubly special occasion for the RCN as we’re celebrating 100 years of the College and the profession. Nurses have made a great contribution to society and so it would be wonderful for everyone to show their thanks to all those nurses who have touched their lives.

“And I too will be saying thank you. Thank you to each and every nurse throughout history that has made this the fantastic profession that it is today and for the dedicated care and compassion that nurses working today show day in and day out.”
 
The RCN’s theme for 2016 is #thankanurse.