International Nurses Day on Monday 12 May is an opportunity to celebrate the incredible work nurses do every day in communities across the North East and Yorkshire, the region’s Chief Nurse says.
David Purdue (pictured) says the annual event is an opportunity to celebrate the unique and vital contribution of nursing professionals.
“Today, we thank nurses for their unwavering commitment to patient care and the difference they make to people’s lives every day,” Mr Purdue, Regional Chief Nurse for NHS North East and Yorkshire, said.
“Nurses are at the centre of the NHS, social care and the independent and charitable sectors. Nursing is a highly skilled profession and across all settings, nurses lead innovation, drive improvements, and champion better care for patients, families and communities.
“Let’s celebrate the incredible work of our nurses together, acknowledging their dedication and the positive impact they make in communities across our region, throughout the NHS, and in social care. Happy International Nurses Day!”
Mr Purdue added that nurses were integral to delivering the three key shifts in healthcare which will form the basis of the 10-Year Health Plan for the NHS – moving care from hospitals into communities, making better use of technology and focusing more on preventing illness, not just treating it.
Mr Purdue added: ”I’d like to thank all our nurses, in whichever field they work, for their excellent contribution to improving the health and wellbeing of people in the North East and Yorkshire.”
On International Nurses Day, the NHS is also reminding people thinking about a career in nursing of the whole world of possibilities opened up by a rewarding role that has more than 50 specialisms across mental health, learning disability, adult learning and children’s nursing.
Mr Purdue explained: “A nursing degree offers exciting and hands-on training via a range of placements while you learn, giving you the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives.”
Students who attend university to study nursing could be eligible for the NHS Learning Support Fund which guarantees at least £5,000 a year, as well as specialist payments for studying mental health or learning disability nursing, and for parental support. People interested in studying nursing can apply to universities across the country. Search ‘NHS Nursing Careers’ to find out more.
- To mark International Nurses Day 2025, nursing professionals from across the North East and Yorkshire have joined together in a social media video to highlight the wide range of specialisms, varied workplace settings and the positive impact on patients’ wellbeing