{"id":19755,"date":"2026-05-12T10:10:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T08:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=19755"},"modified":"2026-05-12T16:18:38","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T14:18:38","slug":"celebrating-the-international-nurses-day-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=19755","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating the International Nurses Day 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The International Nurses Day, celebrated every year on 12 May, is an important opportunity for the European Federation of Nurses Associations (EFN) to recognise the invaluable contribution of nurses and to highlight their central role in delivering high-quality, safe, and patient-centred care across Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nurses are the backbone of healthcare systems. As demonstrated during recent health crises, nurses are consistently at the frontline of care, ensuring the continuity and resilience of healthcare services under immense pressure. However, nurses are under severe strain. Chronic understaffing, excessive workloads, unsafe working conditions, and insufficient recognition are driving nurses out of the profession at alarming rates. This workforce crisis not only threatens nurses\u2019 own health and well-being, but also undermines patient safety, quality of care, and health system preparedness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Therefore, on this International Nurses Day, the EFN calls on EU and national policymakers to invest in nursing education, ensuring safe staffing levels, improving working conditions, and guaranteeing fair remuneration as essential measures to make nursing sustainable and attractive. Gender equity and zero tolerance for violence in healthcare settings must also be integral components of workforce strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nursing is not only part of the solution, but also the solution to addressing Europe\u2019s growing healthcare needs. To achieve resilient and future-proof healthcare systems, nurses must be fully involved in decision-making processes at all levels, including health workforce planning and policy design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">International Nurses Day is a moment to celebrate nurses\u2019 dedication and impact, but also a call to action. Supporting nurses today means protecting patients tomorrow and ensuring the sustainability of healthcare systems for future generations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this context, EFN organised a livestreamed VoxBox discussion in the European Parliament, where MEP Nicolas Gonz\u00e1lez Casares (S&amp;D, Spain), Paul De Raeve (EFN Secretary General), joined by Terhi Reunama (Finnish Nurses Association), Paloma Arenas (Spanish Union Satse) &amp; Laura \u00c1frica Villase\u00f1or Roa (SATSE President), called for better protection and support, Safe Staffing Levels, Advanced Practice Nurses (APN), and recognition for the frontline nurses to stay in the profession. <br>>> Rewatch EFN livestreamed VoxBox <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/live\/rTn_YuHphW4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Happy International Nurses Day, today and every day!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The International Nurses Day, celebrated every year on 12 May,&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":19756,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19755","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6865,"url":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=6865","url_meta":{"origin":19755,"position":0},"title":"International Nurses&#8217; Day 2015 &#8211; &#8220;Nurses: A Force for Patient\/Citizens Empowerment&#8221;","author":"efn efn","date":"May 11, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Thanks to the increasing focus on patient empowerment, political leaders become more aware of the vital role nurses play in empowering patients and citizens in the process of continuity of care. eHealth services start playing a crucial role in integrated care. On the International Nurses\u2019 Day, which falls together with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest News","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":8663,"url":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=8663","url_meta":{"origin":19755,"position":1},"title":"On the International Nurses Day, the EFN urges national governments to STOP downgrading nurses and risking citizens\u2019 lives to save money!","author":"efn efn","date":"May 10, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Celebrated on 12 May, the date of Florence Nightingale\u2019s birth, the International Nurses\u2019 Day is a global event initiated by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) in 1965 and held each year in recognition of nurses\u2019 invaluable work. But looking at nursing in the EU, is there something to celebrate\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest News","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":10170,"url":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=10170","url_meta":{"origin":19755,"position":2},"title":"Nurses are the driving force to deliver health outcomes","author":"efn efn","date":"May 11, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"On the International Nurses\u2019 Day, the EFN promotes the importance of universal access to healthcare as a fundamental right of EU citizens. The recently adopted European Pillar of Social Rights represents a unique opportunity for the EU to strengthen the right to timely access to affordable, preventive and curative health\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest News","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":11266,"url":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=11266","url_meta":{"origin":19755,"position":3},"title":"International Nurses\u2019 Day 2019 \u2013 Nurses: A Voice to Lead Health for All","author":"efn efn","date":"May 10, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"On Sunday, 12 May 2019, the birthdate of Florence Nightingale, nurses around the world will celebrate International Nurses Day (IND) with the theme Nurses: A Voice to Lead Health for All. The EFN and all its members are recognising nurses\u2019 invaluable work and promoting the importance of universal access to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest News","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":14903,"url":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=14903","url_meta":{"origin":19755,"position":4},"title":"INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY \u2013 A VOICE TO LEAD!","author":"efn efn","date":"May 11, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"In the International Nurses Day, the EFN wants to shed the light on the great contribution of nurses and on their vital role to deliver excellence and high-quality care in the healthcare on a daily basis. As demonstrated by Covid-19 pandemic, more than ever, nurses have an essential role in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest News","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/EFN-PIC.jpg?fit=854%2C855&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/EFN-PIC.jpg?fit=854%2C855&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/EFN-PIC.jpg?fit=854%2C855&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/EFN-PIC.jpg?fit=854%2C855&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15855,"url":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=15855","url_meta":{"origin":19755,"position":5},"title":"116th General Assembly of the European Federation of Nurses Associations (EFN)","author":"efn efn","date":"April 14, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The EFN National Nurses Associations, representing over 3 million EU nurses, met in Opatija (Croatia) on 13-14 April 2023, for the Spring EFN General Assembly. The EFN Members discussed priority\u00a0 policy and political developments at EU level, including\u00a0 the Short-Medium-Long Termactions for advanced practice nursing (APN) across the EU and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest News","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/20230414_102111-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C440&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/20230414_102111-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C440&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/20230414_102111-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C440&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/20230414_102111-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C440&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/20230414_102111-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C440&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2.png?fit=1080%2C1350&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19755","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19755"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19755\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19764,"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19755\/revisions\/19764"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/19756"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19755"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19755"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19755"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}