Florence Nightingale was a pioneering statistician and the progenitor of modern nursing. She saved the lives of several wounded soldiers in the Crimean War in Constantinople. She trained and managed the care of wounded soldiers using methods and protocols that led to the development of nursing as an important ancillary position to that of a surgeon or physician. Nurses administer medicine, ensure the hygiene standards of the hospital, feed patients who are too weak to eat on their own and are attentive to their every need.
According to a study conducted by a journal called ‘Nurse’ in 2008, the addition of a single full-time resident nurse to a hospital nursing unit would significantly reduce deaths. Nurses often conduct preliminary assessments of patients and also observe them throughout their stay, reporting any anomaly to the resident physician. Their role in our life is critical. Several nurses are involved in end of life care and they ensure that those dying are not denied dignity in their final days.
International Nurses Day is celebrated every year on the 12th of May to mark the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale. The theme for this year is “Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Invest in Nursing and respect rights to secure global health.” We owe a great deal to nurses and their relentless efforts to make hospitals hospitable. Nurses played a very important part in the treatment of Covid19 patients. The Kerala Academy of Pharmacy understands the significance of nursing and the impact it has on human health. Therefore, we take this opportunity to thank the spine of the healthcare system, nurses, for their vital and very often, distinguished services.
