INTERNATIONAL Nurses Day (IND) is held on each year on May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth, to celebrate the nursing profession and to raise awareness about the challenges that face nurses around the world.
‘Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies,’ is the theme selected by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) for IND 2025.
Building on the success of the 2024 IND theme, The Economic Power of Care, the 2025 theme shifts focus to the health and wellbeing of nurses. This theme underscores the critical role a healthy nursing workforce plays in strengthening economies, improving health systems, and ensuring better outcomes for communities worldwide.
ICN President Dr Pamela Cipriano explained why the theme was chosen. “Nurses face numerous challenges: physical, mental, emotional and ethical, and it is imperative that we address these challenges in a way that promotes their overall health,” she said.
“This theme provides an opportunity to bring actionable solutions to the forefront—solutions that can be implemented immediately to support nurses in their daily work and improve their long-term health. It reinforces the appeal from our Charter for Change calling for all organisations and governments to value, protect, respect and invest in our nurses for a sustainable future for nursing and health care.”
The upcoming IND report, which will be published on May 12, 2025, will focus on tangible, evidence-based solutions to enhance nurses’ health and wellbeing, recognizing their crucial role in optimising both health systems and economies. It will address key concerns such as mental health, physical wellness and workplace safety, offering actionable strategies to support nurses in these critical areas. Additionally, the report will advocate for the creation of safer, more supportive and positive work environments that foster high-performing cultures, ultimately ensuring improved access to and quality of patient care, higher workforce retention, and a stronger, more resilient health system that benefits society as a whole. Addressing the root causes that erode nurses’ wellbeing is essential for a healthy nursing workforce.
“Our goal with IND2025 is not only to highlight the challenges nurses face but also to provide a roadmap for enabling a healthier nursing workforce,” said Dr Cipriano. “By prioritising the wellbeing of nurses, we are ensuring that they can continue to provide the high-quality care that is critical to the health of our communities.”
