The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch (ANMF) recognising the contribution of Tasmanian nurses and paying
tribute to international colleagues on International Nurses Day
Recognising the contribution of Tasmanian nurses and paying
tribute to international colleagues on International Nurses Day
Each year on the 12th May, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch (ANMF) celebrate the work of our incredibly committed nurses on International Nurses Day. However, in 2020 tomorrow is particularly special for a number of reasons.
“In addition to being International Nurses Day, the day also marks the 200th anniversary of nursing pioneer, Florence Nightingale’s birth, and falls within the World Health Organisation’s International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife,” said ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd.
In 2020, the theme for International Nurses Day – Nursing the World to Health, could not be more accurate. As the largest group of frontline health care professionals, nurses are leaders in protecting the health and wellbeing of their patients, communities, and the world.
“International Nurses Day is about recognising, celebrating, and thanking nurses around the world for their outstanding and tireless contribution to their profession, patients, and community at large. In 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic has seen nurses on the frontline shaping and leading the world to recovery.
“Nurses have courageously and selflessly stepped up to protect the health and wellbeing of their patients at a time of fear and unknown. While many in the community have been responsibly isolating from the crisis, nurses have sacrificed time with their families and loved ones to ensure care and compassion to those in need.
“Tragically, this has meant that across the world many nurses have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus and in some cases, lost their lives as a result.
“While we do want to celebrate the incredible contribution of nurses in Tasmania today as in other years, we also want to pay tribute to our overseas colleagues who have lost their lives treating and caring for patients with COVID-19.
“As such, we are asking you to light a candle and head to the ANMF Tasmanian Branch Facebook page (@ANMFTasmania) at 7pm on 12 May 2020, to join us in a vigil for these heroic individuals, to recognise and pay tribute to their ultimate sacrifice.”
-End-
Media contact:
Emily Shepherd, Branch Secretary
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: emily.shepherd@anmftas.org.au
Published 11 May 2020