Nursing students commemorate the life of Florence Nightingale
30 May 2012
Thousands of nurses once again celebrated International Nurses Day at the annual service in Westminster Abbey to commemorate the life of Florence Nightingale.
The Florence Nightingale Lamp was carried by Research Nurse, Claire Gibbs and escorted by student nurses from Liverpool John Moores University. On arrival in the Sacrarium the Lamp was passed to Olufolakemi Tokode who passed it to Donna Barleycorn to represent the transmission of knowledge. It was then placed on the High Altar by Canon White. The service launched the celebrations for International Nurses’ Day on 12 May.
The service, which celebrates nursing and midwifery and all staff, both qualified and unqualified, working in these services, was attended by nurses, midwives, health visitors and government ministers. It celebrated nurses across the board and recognised the balance of skill and intellect coupled with care and compassion, starting the celebrations for International Nurses Day. The Reverend Professor Vernon White, Canon in Residence led the Service and the Address was given by Lord Carey, former Archbishop of Canterbury.
Diane Phibbs, BSc (Hons), BSc Mental Health Nursing commented on the day, "Being at Westminster Abbey for this event was a once in a life time experience and one I will never forget. It was amazing to be a part of it and I felt honoured to be there. It made me feel proud to be a nurse."
Dr Trish Livsey, LJMU Director of Academic Delivery in the Faculty of Health and Applied Social Sciences said, "This was a fantastic experience for LJMU student nurses representing the University and Liverpool, particularly during the celebrations of 150 years of professional nurse training in the city."
2012 marks the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Liverpool School of Nursing, the first training school for nurses outside of London which was the result of a pioneering collaboration between Florence Nightingale and William Rathbone VI.
LJMU are currently taking part in a the Liverpool Nursing150 project, to find out more visit the website or you can email memories@liverpoolnursing150.org.uk or write to:
Liverpool Nurse 150,
Department of Public Health and Policy,
University of Liverpool,
Whelan Building,
Quadrangle,
Liverpool
L69 3GB
Liverpool Nursing150 is a joint initiative launched by the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust, the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moore’s University, the Liverpool Royal League of Nurses and Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust.
