The World Health Assembly, the governing body of the World Health Organization (WHO), has designated 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and Midwife to advance nurses' vital position in transforming health care around the world.1 It is also in honor of the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth.
The American Nurses Association (ANA) will celebrate the Year of the Nurse by engaging with nurses, thought leaders and consumers in a variety of ways that promote nursing excellence, infuse leadership, and foster innovation.1 The campaign encompasses all nurses regardless of role or specialty. This year-long campaign will recognize nurses' contributions to patient care and the impact that can be made on the health of the nation. The focus will also raise the visibility of the nursing profession in public policy forums and the need to invest in a competent nursing workforce.
This May, ANA is also extending National Nurses Week (recognized annually May 6-12) to a month-long celebration to expand opportunities that elevate and recognize nursing's contributions. It is imperative that nurses share their contributions to the profession and health care locally, nationally, and internationally. As nurses, we understand the value of our profession and the impact it has on health of the public; however, it is worthwhile to highlight how we are instrumental in transforming health care.
Nursing is a highly regarded profession that has consistently received public acknowledgement. For the 18th consecutive year, nurses have achieved the #1 spot in Gallup's Annual Most Honest and Ethical Professions Poll. According to the poll, 85% of Americans rated nurses' honesty and ethical standards as "very high" or "high."2 It is no surprise that nurses have articulated and espoused a formal code of ethics for more than 120 years; the first of which was written by Lystra Gretter in 1893. Gretter revered the work of Florence Nightingale and named the first code, the "Florence Nightingale Pledge." Three years after the Nightingale pledge was authored, a group that later became ANA convened. The group's first purpose was to establish and maintain a code of ethics for nursing. Gretter's code served as the foundational document for this endeavor. The Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements has undergone many revisions and iterations over the decades, but one constant remains: nurses continually demonstrate professionalism that is bound by ethical practice-one that is acknowledged and appreciated by the patients we serve.3
ANA created a Year of the Nurse logo with the tagline "Excel. Lead. Innovate."1 As I read more about this campaign in depth, I cannot help but think about how infusion nurses exemplify these 3 traits. We excel by setting the standard for infusion care and continually adding to the body of evidence-based research. We lead teams to ensure our patients receive infusion care based on their treatment plan; teach and support colleagues so they are practicing to the full extent of their education; and support certification and go the extra step to achieve it. We innovate by seeking solutions to clinical issues that will improve patient care and efficiencies in our organizations.
INS is proud to participate in this year-long campaign and celebrate nurses who serve in all aspects of the nursing profession. INS continues to do our part in advancing practice by providing our members with invaluable educational resources. From our new Fundamentals of Infusion Therapy (FIT) learning modules, to our monthly webinars and podcasts, to our Annual Meeting, we strive to stay up-to-date with the ever-changing health care landscape. 2020 also marks a year-long commitment by our Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice committee to bring you the revised guidelines by January 2021. We look forward to disseminating this critical update to our members and the entire nursing community. As we work toward completion this year, we also work toward engaging with ANA and other nursing partners in meeting the demand for health and health care services.1 All nurses are encouraged to share your story at #yearofthenurse and join the celebration!
Mary Alexander
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