Celebrating International Nurses Day
Published on 12 May 2022
On International Nurses Day, we’re celebrating nursing students and the 705,265 nurses and nursing associates on our register who continue to provide safe, kind and effective care all over the UK.
This year’s theme is Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Invest in nursing and respect rights to secure global health. It’s an opportunity to reflect on the profession’s impact on people’s health and wellbeing.
Andrea Sutcliffe CBE, Chief Executive and Registrar for the Nursing and Midwifery Council, said:
“It’s always fantastic to see the pride that nurses and nursing associates have in their profession. Their roles take a huge amount of skill, compassion and commitment, and touch so many lives. They are at the heart of our health and social care system and as their professional regulator, today we celebrate them.
“Nurses do indeed have a voice to lead – they are the largest professional group who spend the most time with people using health and social care services. Their insight needs to be respected, valued, listened to and acted upon.
“Whether they practise in hospitals, in social care, in the community, in public health, in education and research or leadership roles, nursing professionals have worked within a tough and increasingly complex environment over the last two years. A huge thank you to them all and to the professionals of the future; our talented nursing students.”
Notes
• The number of nurses and nursing associates (705,265) mentioned above includes dual registrants (those registered as both nurses and midwives).
• As of our most recent data report there are 698,367 nurses and nursing associates and 6,898 dual registrants on our register.
Other recent news…
Reflections of a midwife: James Harris
Published on 05 May 2026
James, who is a Midwifery Policy Advisor at the NMC, shares his reflections on what it means to be a midwife, as the profession celebrates International Day of
Reflections of a midwife: Wendy Olayiwola
Published on 05 May 2026
Wendy, who is National Maternity Lead for Equality at NHS England, shares her reflections on what it means to be a midwife, as the profession celebrates Interna
Reflections of a midwife: Paris Pinnock-Cowell
Published on 05 May 2026
Paris, who is Matron for Perinatal Health and Wellbeing Services at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, shares her reflections on what it means t