International Nurses' Day is celebrated around the world every May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth, to mark the contributions that nurses make to society. The theme for 2023 is "Our Nurses. Our Future". People will take this opportunity to express gratitude to every nurse.

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has celebrated this day since 1965. 

In January 1974, May 12 was chosen to celebrate the day as it is the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Each year, ICN prepares and distributes the International Nurses' Day Kit. The kit contains educational and public information materials, for use by nurses everywhere. As of 1998, May 8 was designated as annual National Student Nurses' Day.

In Australia, Canada, the United States, and other countries, International Nurses Day often is part of a weeklong celebration, usually referred to as National Nurses Week.

(By Yang Jiming/Wang Wenchao)