10 May 2013:

Nurses all around the country are preparing to celebrate International Nurses Day on Sunday 12 May. This year’s theme is Closing the Gap: the Millennium Development Goals: 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, which are internationally recognised health related goals.

International Nurses Day is marked on the anniversary of Crimean War nurse Florence Nightingale's birthday and is a chance for the public to recognise the important work nurses do.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) president, Marion Guy says, “As the largest health care profession in the world, there is no doubt that nurses are the key to achieving healthy populations. In New Zealand nurses are particularly well placed to develop innovative ways of providing health care to the communities who need it the most.”

“Nurses are educated to understand the complex nature of maintaining health and wellness, and the impact of psychosocial and socio-economic factors such as poverty, unemployment and ethnicity. They understand well-being as being much more than just a band-aid solution to a set of symptoms. Nurses are integral to ensuring health issues are identified early and everybody in New Zealand gets the care they need, when they need it.

NZNO kaiwhakahaere, Kerri Nuku says, “NZNO thanks each and every nurse. We can’t imagine a world without you and we are proud to support your work. Nurses and every member of the health care team work tirelessly every day to get the healthy future we all deserve. A healthy New Zealand needs a good health service and a more equal society. The more equal our society is, the healthier we will all be.”

“Thank you nurses, we can’t get there without you!”