The International Nurses Day - 12th May was celebrated today at First Auditorium of MU – Varna. The event began with a music programme, performed by the young friends of the University at "Yan Bibiyan" Kindergarten.
A congratulatory speech on behalf of the Rector of the University Prof. Dr. Krasimir Ivanov was delivered by the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Public Health Assoc. Prof. Klara Dokova. The students were congratulated also by Mr. Nikolay Nedev - Deputy Director of Medical College - Varna, Assoc. Prof. Antoaneta Tsvetkova - Chairperson of the Standing Commission on Health Care at Municipal Council - Varna, Mrs. Raina Boyadzhieva - Chairperson of the Regional College of the Bulgarian Association of Health Professionals, as well as by representatives of the management bodies of all Varna hospitals. Among the guests of the event were Prof. Soniya Toncheva - Director of the Shumen Affiliate at MU - Varna, Prof. Stoyanka Popova from the Department of Social Medicine and Health Care Organization, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nevyana Feschieva - President of the Bulgarian Society of History of Medicine, Mr. Hristo Tsekov - Regional Manager of B. Braun Medical.
The Head of the Department of Health Care Assoc. Prof. Silviya Borisova congratulated all participants and welcomed them as a part of the organized celebration, held for the seventh consecutive year.
Honorary diplomas named after Florence Nightingale in category "Scientific Contributions to Nursing" were awarded to Ch. Assist. Prof. Virginiya Tsvetkova and Assist. Prof. Violeta Staneva. Assoc. Prof. Klara Dokova awarded the prize "Practical Contribution to Nursing" to Greta Ivanova - Chief Nurse at University Hospital "St. Marina" and Svetlana Radeva - Chief Midwife at SHOGAT "Prof. Dr. Dimitar Stamatov"- Varna. The fourth-year students Galina Stoyanova from "Nursing" and Gergana Georgieva from "Midwifery" were awarded with diplomas in category "Outstanding Student in Training and Practical Activities".
Students who had completed their Pre-diploma Internship under the Erasmus+ Programme at universities in Turkey and Macedonia shared their impressions of the opportunity to exchange experience in another country and learn interesting and different methods of working. On the other hand, nurses and midwives from Macedonia and Estonia, who had completed their internship at MU - Varna, expressed their gratitude for the chance to come and work in such a friendly environment, and said that they had received invaluable help and attention from the specialists at MU - Varna and University Hospital "St. Marina".
The sports dance pair Maksimiliyan - a student at MU - Varna and Victoria greeted the audience with a beautiful dance. In front of the guests, in the full Auditorium, the third-year students Ekaterina and Elitsa made a presentation on the Easter Charity Bazaar, organized for the second time by students of specialty "Nursing". The funds raised during the Bazaar, which was under the slogan "Today's Problems - Tomorrow's Solutions" were donated to the Labour Therapies at the Psychiatric Clinics at University Hospital "St. Marina". The head of the Department of Health Care Assoc. Prof. Silviya Borisova expressed her gratitude to all students who took part in it and awarded them with diplomas. In the "Best Heart" category, the students Ennis Mehmet and Emine Halim were awarded for making the best decision in a situation of emergency. Their timely reaction helped to save a human life.
At the end of the ceremony Mr. Hristo Tsekov delivered a congratulatory speech on behalf of B. Brown Managing Director Mr. Manfred Marle on the occasion of the International Nurses Day and the beneficial one-year cooperation with MU - Varna, as well as for opening the Aesculap Academy of Health Care, where seven courses were held.
The folklore dance ensemble at MU – Varna, with artistic director Diana Dimitrova, performed a specially prepared dance for the guests.
12 May is the birthday of Florence Nightingale - the first woman who laid the foundations of modern nursing, turning it into science. She is among the world's 100 most influential women of all time in human history. Florence Nightingale made a real breakthrough in the service of 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. There she determined the major principles and standards to be followed in hospitals taking care of 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 of making rounds of wounded soldiers at night. In 1860 she established the first secular nursing school "Nightingale" at "St. Thomas" Hospital in London. Florence Nightingale was the first woman to be awarded with a medal for special merits. She profoundly influenced hospital services and gave nursing a highly favourable reputation and nobleness.
In consequence, the International Nursing Committee decided 12th May, her birthday, to be commemorated. This decision dates back to 1935, and the International Nurses Day has been celebrated around the world since 1965.
