On World Health Day, we want to take a moment to acknowledge all of those that are working on the front lines around the clock to help nurture us back to health. This is true for all medical professionals, but today, along with the World Health Organization, we are honoring the selfless contribution of our nurses.

There is just something about a nurse that makes them special. Maybe it’s their strong desire to nurture or their innate ability to heal, both mentally and physically. They play the part of a friend that is there when you need them, and are a dedicated confidante in a time of need.

So many have paved the way for the healthcare industry as we know it today. We shudder to imagine life without these nursing pioneers and their contributions.

Here are just a few of the notable nurses in history:

1. 1. Clara Barton: founder of American Red Cross in 1881.
   2. Lieutenant Edward T. Lyon: became the first male nurse in the Army Nurse Corps (shown in photo).
   3. Florence Nightingale: founder of modern nursing.
   4. Mary Ezra Mahoney: first African American to become a registered nurse. In 1908, Mahoney co-founded the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses.
   5. Dorothea Dix: advocated for the mentally ill, and heavily recruited nurses during the Civil War.
   6. Virginia Lynch: leader of forensic nursing, arising from personal experience with rape victims. She worked to improve education and use evidence to find the perpetrator, keeping the public safe while ensuring criminals are incarcerated.

National Nurses Week: May 6-12
International Nurses Day: May 12

They have taken care of us and our loved ones every day – it’s our turn to care for them.

Click on the image below for a brief tribute, as well as a collection of nurse appreciation gift ideas.