For the eighth time 12th May – the International Nurses Day has been celebrated at Medical University - Varna. Organizer of the event was the Department of Health Care at the Faculty of Public Health at Medical University-Varna.
A biographical film outlined the life and work of Florence Nightingale, the first woman who laid the foundations of modern nursing. Honorary diplomas for outstanding merit were awarded in the categories: scientific contribution to nursing, practical achievements, outstanding student in training and practical activities.
Following the motto of the celebration for 2019 – “A Voice to Lead Health for All”, the students in the programmes of Nursing and Midwifery conveyed messages about their profession in an extremely attractive way.
Congratulations, accompanied with a short programme, were performed by the children at “Yan Bibian” Kindergarten in Varna, Monika Parusheva and Folk Dance Ensemble “Diana” at MU-Varna.
The ceremony was attended by the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Healthcare - Assoc. Prof. Antoaneta Tsvetkova, the Director of “Health Directorate” Mrs. Anastasiya Georgieva, the Deputy Chairperson of the Regional College of Varna of the Bulgarian Association of Healthcare Professionals Mrs. Kichka Dimitrova, along with plenty of health care managers and medical institutions in Varna, heads of departments at MU-Varna, lecturers and students in Nursing and Midwifery Programmes at FPH at MU-Varna.
Congratulatory addresses were received from the Mayor of Varna Municipality-Mr. Ivan Portnih, the Executive Director of University Hospital “St. Marina”- Varna - Prof. Dr. V. Ignatov, the Manager of SHOGAT “Prof. Dr. D. Stamatov”- Varna, Prof. Dr. Emil Kovachev, the Head of Military Medical Academy - Sofia Col. Prof. Dr. I. Vazharov. A congratulatory address on behalf of the Rector of Medical University - Varna Prof. Dr. Krasimir Ivanov was delivered by Prof. Silviya Borisova - Head of the Department of Health Care at the Faculty of Public Health.
On 12th May - the International Nurses Day, we pay tribute to one internationally recognized figure - Florence Nightingale. She is among the world's 100 most influential women of all time in human history, a prominent reformer, who laid the foundations of modern nursing as a science. 12th May is the birthday of Florence Nightingale. She made a real breakthrough in providing nursing care for the wounded and sick soldiers during the Crimean War. After the war she was proclaimed a Heroine of England. In 1859 she published a book entitled Notes on Hospitals. In the book she determined the major principles and standards to be followed at hospitals in providing nursing care for patients. Some of these principles are still valid and up-to-date in modern medicine and healthcare. She was called "The Lady with the Lamp" because she introduced the rule for nurses to monitor sick people at night as well. In 1860 she established the first secular nursing school "Nightingale" at "St. Thomas" Hospital in London. Florence Nightingale became the first woman to be awarded the Order of Merit. She influenced hospital services profoundly and brought a sense of nobility in the nursing profession.
In 1965 the International Council of Nurses decided 12th May, her birthday, to be commemorated as International Nurses Day. Consequently, it has been celebrated around the world since 1974.
Florence Nightingale proposed a text for the Nurse's Oath, which is still up to date, "I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practise my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping, and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavour to aid the physician in his work, and as a 'missioner of health' I will dedicate myself to devoted service to human welfare."
