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Celebrating and recognising the vital role of our midwives and nurses this May
3rd May 2024
International Day of the Midwife (5 May) and International Nurses Day (12 May) are twin opportunities for NHS Research Scotland (NRS) to celebrate the enormous contribution that both professions make to Scottish healthcare while championing their vital role in research
The two dates acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and expertise of these key members of the NHS workforce – and the difference they make to so many patients and families each and every day.
Nurses and midwives are also at the heart of clinical research in Scotland, from shaping research studies, and supporting people to take part, to providing direct care during the study. They also play a key role in helping put research findings into practice and help to champion the vital importance of research across NHS Scotland.
International Day of the Midwife (IDM) will be themed ‘Midwives: A vital climate solution’, while International Nurses Day (IND) will be championing ‘the economic power of care’.
The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) recognises that midwives represent a vital contributor to research aimed at adapting health systems to climate change, and lowering carbon emissions overall.
ICM believes that midwives, maternity support workers, and student midwives, can be part of identifying healthcare solutions which are “capable of withstanding the worst impacts of climate change”.
IND is meanwhile celebrated annually on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth and is led by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) which represents over 28 million nurses worldwide.
Its ‘economic power of care’ theme is considered more important than ever with ICN president, Dr Pamela Cipriano believing it will help to highlight the need for nursing to be seen as instrumental in a healthier future.
NRS believes that both midwives and nurses are lynchpins in supporting, leading, and delivering research and that it can be a significant asset to both patients and their own career paths.
Clinical Research Nurse Laura Edwards, from the Maybin lab at Edinburgh’s Centre for Reproductive Health, recently won the NHS Research Scotland Patient and Public Involvement Newcomer Award for her contribution to patient and public involvement (PPI) in menstrual research. She was presented with her award during a ceremony at the NHS Research Scotland Patient and Public Involvement event held at the V&A in Dundee on 12 March, organised by NRS and the Chief Scientist Office (CSO).
Meanwhile Professor Lis Neubeck, Clinical Champion of the Cardiovascular Network at NHS Research Scotland (NRS), is nominated in the upcoming Nurse of the Year Awards in Edinburgh. Professor Neubeck is nominated within the ‘Inspiring Excellence – Nursing Innovation and Research Award’ which recognises those who have “improved the care of people through innovation, research and transformation” and “influenced change with a measurable impact on outcomes and/or experience”.
Stay up to date with activity on social media
- #IDM2024 and #MidwivesAndClimate
- #IND2024 and #OurNursesOurFuture
