Nursing Profession Celebrates 2010 as International Year of the Nurse
Commemorative service 25 April 2010 at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.  

INDIANAPOLIS – The year 2010 marks 100 years since the death of Florence Nightingale. Nightingale, recognized as the founder of modern nursing, is still revered and widely respected around the world today. To honor her legacy, 2010 International Year of the Nurse (IYNurse) founders, the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI); Nightingale Initiative for Global Health (NIGH); and the Florence Nightingale Museum, have launched a sustained public awareness initiative to actively involve the world’s nurses — estimated to be more than 15 million — in a celebration of commitment to promoting health in their communities, locally and worldwide.

Throughout the year, nurses have opportunities to showcase their unique contributions toward the achievement of health and well-being for everyone. This celebration, a global collaboration with citizens around the world, engages nurses in the promotion of world health and demonstrates how they advocate for the achievement of the United Nations Millennial Development Goals.

Events include a service at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., from 4:00-5:00 p.m. Sunday, 25 April.

“In collaboration with the Nightingale Initiative for Global Health and the Florence Nightingale Museum in London, we are honored to support this yearlong celebration focused on nurses and the profession,” says Patricia E. Thompson, RN, EdD, FAAN, STTI’s chief executive officer. “Through the International Year of the Nurse Web site, we demonstrate the impact nurses have on health care worldwide.”

“The 2010 IYNurse initiative seeks to recognize the contributions of nurses globally and to engage nurses in the promotion of world health, including all the UN MDGs,” says Barbara Dossey, RN, PhD, AHN-BC, FAAN, NIGH International co-director. “We look forward to bringing nurses from around the world together for a commemorative global service at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.”

To learn more about 2010 IYNurse, the UN Millennial Development Goals, and to submit events and personal stories, visit www.2010iynurse.net.   

 # # #

The Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support the learning, knowledge, and professional development of nurses committed to making a difference in health worldwide. Founded in 1922, the STTI has inducted more than 400,000 members in 86 countries. Members include practicing nurses, instructors, researchers, policymakers, entrepreneurs and others. The honor society's 469 chapters are located at 586 institutions of higher education throughout Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ghana, Hong Kong, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, Mexico, The Netherlands, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Swaziland, Sweden, Taiwan, Tanzania, the United States and Wales. More information about the STTI can be found online at www.nursingsociety.org.