International Nurses Day - a chance to thank nurses for the care they give us

Nurses deserve our thanks 

Media Release 9 May 2023 

International Nurses Day is about two words: thank you. 

Thank you to all the nurses and midwives in general practice, in aged care, in community care, in correctional facilities, in rural, regional and remote, areas, in cities, and yes, in hospitals as well. 

Thank you for the care, the passion, the enthusiasm, the knowledge and the trust that you give patients day after day, in good days and bad, rain, hail or shine. 

Today is International Nurses Day. Today nurses and midwives are celebrated around the world because today is the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. Florence was the founder of modern nursing and was one of the first advocates for better healthcare, better nutrition, and better sanitation and hygiene. These are strong traditions which are continued amongst the ranks of nurses today. 

Nurses and midwives are the largest health workforce in Australia - there are more than 96,000 primary health care (PHC) nurses working outside of a hospital setting in Australia.  

PHC nurses account for around one in seven of the 640,000 registered health professionals in Australia They are the backbone of the PHC system. Despite this, there is a global shortage of approximately 30 million nurses and midwives - there simply are not enough nurses to do the huge job that we ask of them. 

The theme for International Nurses Day 2023 is Our Nurses. Our Future. It’s time to think about the future of PHC nursing and look after the nurses who look after us. 

Primary health care is changing, and APNA is fighting for PHC nurses to be recognised and valued for the amazing work you do. 

As the voice of PHC nursing in Australia, today APNA has one message for all nurses – thank you.