If ever there was a time to send thoughtful gifts to nurses, this would be the year. Thankfully International Nurses Day gives us all a reminder to give back to those who tend to our loved ones.
For the third year in a row, caregivers around the globe have handled everything from caring for sick patients to handling life-or-death circumstances for themselves and their families. All of this while working through an ongoing crisis that has affected every hospital in the world. Nurses aren’t always given the respect that they deserve. So we have taken this year as a special opportunity to celebrate International Nurses Day and give our frontline workers the appreciation that they deserve.
Each year, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) leads the celebration of International Nurses Day, held on 12 May. The theme for 2022 is A Voice to Lead – which demonstrates the need for social programs to invest in nursing, build a resilient nursing workforce and protect nurses’ rights to strengthen health systems around the world.
International Nurses Day provides a platform to honor the integral role that nurses play around the world. Nurses are sometimes seen as underdogs in the medical industry. Truthfully they play a key role in taking responsibility for patients’ welfare, safety, and recovery. Join us in celebrating these medical superstars as we honor the enormous effort these caregivers put into transforming the global healthcare system.
If you are lucky enough to have a nurse in your life and want to show them just how much you appreciate the work that they do, we have you covered. Scroll down and read our guide on how to spoil these special caregivers on International Nurses Day.
International Nurses Day: A History
Before we dive into the best ways to celebrate these medical superstars, let’s look back into the history of International Nurses Day and how it all began. Initially, the day was proposed by an official within the U.S Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Unfortunately, this first attempt was denied. Twenty years later, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) celebrated its first-ever Nurses Day in 1965. May 12 was the selected date, as it was the birth anniversary of the famous nurse, Florence Nightingale. Nightingale was a force to be reckoned with, as she became an icon of Victorian culture. This only increased as her nickname of “The Lady with the Lamp ” developed. We know that not all superheroes wear capes! Nightingale proved that saving many lives as she did her rounds of wounded soldiers at night.
Why do we celebrate Florence Nightingale?
Florence Nightingale was an English nurse, social reformer, and statistician who gained recognition during the Crimean war. She served as a manager and trainer of nurses while tending to wounded soldiers. During her time in the medical industry, Nightingale became the pillar of modern nursing and gave the job a highly favorable reputation.
In the 1860’s Florence Nightingale laid the foundation for professional nursing. Establishing her nursing program at St Thomas’ Hospital in London would revolutionize medical care. Today, Nightingale’s achievements are still recognized through the Florence Nightingale Medal, the highest International certificate a nurse can achieve.
International Nurses Day Gift Ideas
Nurses have always played a key role in the recovery and well-being of patients around the world. So it is sad to know that they hardly get the respect that they deserve. Being the backbone of the healthcare system, nurses are a critical link in our hospitals. Nurses take care of the sick and injured, physically and emotionally, but they also bring new life into the world.
After the past two stressful years in medical institutions, no one deserves more gratitude than the nurses who have worked tirelessly in these tough environments and risked their own health for the sake of others. If you have a nurse in your family, make sure you brighten their days with random surprises. If you have a nurse who took care of you in the past, this is the perfect time to surprise them.
If you would like to send a gift to a nurse but are unsure where to start, we have created a list of some of the best gifts for International Nurses Day 2022. Whatever you choose to do, remember that it’s the thought that counts the most.
Chocolate and Coffee Gift Basket
Is there a better duo than chocolate and coffee? We can’t think of one! Chocolate is the cure for everything! Coffee is essential for long hours on your feet, so why not select our popular gift basket set called “A Few of Her Favorite Things” for your favorite nurse. This combination of rich chocolate bars and artisan coffees is the perfect surprise to show your appreciation!
Cakes, Cakes, Cakes
You can’t go wrong with a surprise cake delivered to your loved one’s doorstep! Gift Baskets Overseas can deliver freshly baked cakes in all shapes and sizes! Whether it’s cupcakes, cookies, or a gourmet sweet basket, this surprise is guaranteed to put a smile on their face!
Flower Baskets
Flowers are a language of their own and have the ability to lift anyone’s spirits. We know that nurses can sometimes feel overwhelmed. Surprising them with a flower basket is a sure way to elevate their mood! Try combining your unique flower basket with a pair of cozy slippers or a personalized mug to show them just how much you care!
International Nurses Day: A Day In The Life of a Nurse
One of our Brand Managers, Shannon Youngblood, celebrates her sister (pictured above), a registered nurse every year and thought it might be a cool idea to hold a little interview with her. We thought this was a splendid idea and wanted to show our readers what it’s like being a nurse and how you can spoil them this International Nurses Day.
So, the first question: what kind of nurse are you? And what exactly do those initials mean?
I’m an RN and those are the 2 letters on my superhero cape. Those letters mean to me that I get to be the light or glimmer of hope for a patient on a dark and vulnerable day. It stands for a registered nurse!
What made you want to be a nurse?
I wanted to become a nurse because I was looking for a career that I would be able to make a difference in someone’s life. I wanted to be able to walk away from my job each day knowing that I helped someone.
What does a day in the life of an RN look like?
The day of a nurse begins when you receive reports on 5-6 different people. You learn about each patient’s diagnoses, medical history, medications, what brought them in, their abilities, and disabilities. Once the report is finished, rounds start. Each patient gets a visit where you assess every part of their body, administer medications, and address any issues or concerns, times that by the number of patients you’re assigned to. The day continues with reoccurring visits to each of these patients where you learn everything about them…how they like their water, how well they walk to the restroom, if they’re even able to make it there, if they can feed themselves, or turn over in bed alone. Essentially we learn everything physically possible about 5-6 patients within hours of being with them.
On unfortunate nights your patient may die or code and you have to put all your body strength into doing CPR or you may find yourself in a closet crying from the overwhelming emotions. The day in the life of a nurse is 12+ hours of running on your feet, taking care of and catering to patients, and saving lives!
What is your favorite part about being a nurse?
My favorite part of being a nurse is meeting so many different people and hearing their stories. I love to learn about people and see how different each of us is. It’s also amazing when someone recognizes and praises your hard work for taking care of them.
What is your least favorite part about being a nurse?
My least favorite part of being a nurse is being overworked and underpaid. We are constantly short-staffed, working a job where one small mistake made could kill a person. Having such a mental and physical load placed on you and then the expectation to do everything correctly while doing the job of 2 people is unacceptable.
Where do you see your nursing career in 5, 10, or 20 years?
I see my nursing career right where it’s at now in the next 5, 10, and 20 years. I love bedside nursing. I love being able to meet new people and care for them.
What would you want your future patients to know about being their nurse?
I want my future patients to know that they’re safe with me. That I will do everything in my power to help heal them and make each day a little brighter, however I can.
How can your friends and family show their appreciation to you this International Nurses Day?
My friends and family can show their appreciation with kind words…and tacos. I’ll always accept tacos!
While Gift Baskets Overseas may not be able to deliver tacos to the door of your favorite nurse, rest assured that the options we do have will have them smiling from ear to ear. From towering boxes of chocolates to bouquets of beautiful flowers, let a nurse in your life know how much you appreciate them this International Nurses Day.
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Born and raised in her beloved mother city Cape Town, Amy-Paige Cox is a writer, poet and plant mom. A hopeful romantic with a penchant for adventure, she loves exploring the world, all the while documenting her ever-changing perspectives with pen and paper.