Every year on May 12, the world celebrates International Nurses Day to honour their contributions and highlight their irreplaceable role in the world of healthcare. The date marks the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, whose legacy continues to inspire caregivers worldwide.
Since its introduction in 1965 by the International Council of Nurses (ICN), the day has become a global call to value the nursing profession, which serves as a pillar of healthcare and a foundation for healthier, more resilient societies.
On the occasion of International Nurses Day, nurses in Abu Dhabi shared with Aletihad what their profession means to them.
For Sara Alkuwaiti, a nurse at Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, nursing is about rebuilding trust, being a source of comfort and guidance, and reassuring every patient that they are in safe hands.
“Being a nurse is not just a profession — it is a lifelong commitment to care, compassion, and community. I’m proud to serve my country by supporting patients on their journey to better health every day,” she told Aletihad.
Alya Alhammadi, a nurse at HealthPlus, echoed the sentiment. To Alhammadi, every patient interaction is both a responsibility and a privilege, rooted in dignity, personal care, and compassion.
“Nursing allows me to make a difference in people’s lives, one patient at a time. As an Emirati nurse, I feel honoured to represent the strength and empathy of our nation’s caregivers,” she told Aletihad.
Mark McCarthy, an Irish nursing manager at the Multidisciplinary Simulation and Life Support Centre, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said: “The UAE has given me the chance to grow as a nurse and as an educator. After 20 years in this profession, I have seen how much healthcare continues to evolve, and being in a place that invests in training and innovation makes a real difference. Through simulation, we prepare caregivers for the realities of clinical care by giving them a safe space to practise, learn and improve.
McCarthy noted that education is essential for patient care and nursing in the UAE was based on trust, competence, as well as teamwork.
Also, Queen Folawiyo, an Irish senior shift leader at the Neurology/Pain Management Clinic and Chair of the Ambulatory Coordinating Council at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said being a nurse in the UAE is both a privilege and a responsibility.
“This country has created an environment where nurses are empowered to lead change, drive quality, and shape the future of healthcare. My journey has shown me that nursing goes far beyond clinical tasks, it’s about listening, advocating, solving problems, and lifting others up every day," Folawiyo said.
"In the UAE, the opportunities to grow, to lead, and to make a difference are real. And I am proud to be part of that journey.”
Nurses Strengthen Economies
This year’s theme, “Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies”, serves as a reminder that supporting nurses is not only essential for patient care but also for the strength and stability of national economies. In its latest report, the ICN said that “investing in employee health could unlock $11.7 trillion in global economic returns”.
The report also cited research showing that a 1% increase in nurse density correlates with a 0.02% increase in life expectancy. And with each additional year of life expectancy, countries exhibited a corresponding 2.4% increase in economic growth.
However, both the ICN and the WHO warn in their reports of a worsening global nursing shortage. The WHO came out with its latest “State of World’s Nursing” report on Monday, with the UAE chairing its launch in the Eastern Mediterranean region. According to the report, the world was already short by approximately 5.8 million nurses in 2023, and by 2030, 89% of the shortage will be borne by low- and lower-middle-income countries.
The ICN report added that an additional 30 million nurses will be required to meet future healthcare demands.
“We cannot and would not want to envision a world without nurses. We must take action to diminish the threats to safe, supportive, and healthy working conditions that will attract future nurses and retain the dedicated nurses who are key to healthier communities, responsive societies, thriving economies, and powerful nations,” Dr. Pamela Cipriano, ICN President, said in the report.
In response, the ICN has put forward its “Caring for Nurses Agenda”, a seven-point action plan addressing urgent areas such as fair pay, safe staffing levels, workplace safety, career progression, and mental health support.
Meanwhile, the WHO called on countries to scale up the nursing workforce “by expanding education and training capacity, increasing jobs for nurses in the health system, improving working conditions and strengthening leadership and governance”.
