From Wikipedia:
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has celebrated this day since 1965. In 1953 Dorothy Sutherland, an official with the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, proposed that President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaim a "Nurses' Day"; he did not approve it. In January 1974, 12 May was chosen to celebrate the day as it is the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, who is widely considered the founder of modern nursing. ....................Each year a service is held in Westminster Abbey in London. During the Service, a symbolic lamp is taken from the Nurses' Chapel in the Abbey and handed from one nurse to another, thence to the Dean, who places it on the High Altar. This signifies the passing of knowledge from one nurse to another. At St Margaret's Church at East Wellow in Hampshire, where Florence Nightingale is buried, a service is also held on the Sunday after her birthday
As it's Music Monday I've sorted out a couple of songs for the guys and gals who take care of us when we're sick: Fix You by Coldplay, and Handle With Care by The Traveling Wilburys:
Well, I think that we have a few too many "days" to celebrate:
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_commemorative_days
My favs:
Hug Day Feb 13
World Intellectual Property Day April 26
National Masturbation Day May 26
World Mosquito Day Aug 20
International Talk Like a Pirate Day Sept 19
Global Handwashing Day Oct 15
World Toilet Day Nov 19
I'm not too in favor of honoring careers that are generally highly skilled (educated) and well paid...the reward is in the pay. I acknowledge that nurses are special people, but the nurse's aides and orderlies are more deserving of the recognition for their efforts at minimum wage (or less, if one can find a desperate immigrant).
I'm sure that many nurses are in their chosen field to fulfill their Virgo-ish tendencies, but a majority view it as a respectable, well-paid, in-demand career. Nothing wrong with that and it's a wise choice.
I didn't notice a National Teachers Day on the list or a National Plumbers Day. Trash collectors have one of the most dangerous jobs and has the least respect (http://waste360.com/mag/waste_garbage_collection_rated).
I worked hard for my degree, but I knew that I'd have a professional career and make good money. The biotech companies that employed me save lives with their patented drugs, but at a high cost to the patient. This isn't much different than most nurses working in hospitals that save lives, but at a high cost to the patient. Our high salaries should be thanks enough.
mike ~ Hmm. Maybe there's more good feeling, about nurses in particular, in the UK - they are mainly NHS employees. I would, in any case always include the the orderlies and aides, and the cleaners involved in assisting nurses for that matter, in the honouring, or more accurately simply pausing for a few moments to remember what they do day by day, often at our first breath and our last, and during times of pain and discomfort.
ReplyDeleteTo me there IS a difference between nurses and plumbers, and trash collectors. Sorry.
Teachers - I did think there was a Teacher's Day - don't know about a specific USA one but World Teachers Day is October 5 -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teachers%27_Day
Some of those "Days" you mention are just silly though, agreed.