On the occasion of the International Nurses Day, celebrated on 12 May, a delegation from the Master’s Programmes in Healthcare and the Nursing Degree Programme of the University of Parma will take part in the prestigious Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service, which will be held at the historic Westminster Abbey in London.
The event, promoted by the Florence Nightingale Foundation, represents one of the most significant international occasions dedicated to the nursing profession and will be attended by important institutional figures, including Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh and Princess Alexandra, highlighting the value and recognition attributed to the role of nursing professions within contemporary healthcare systems.
Representing the University of Parma will be Prof. Antonio Bonacaro, Associate Professor of Nursing Science and President of the Master’s Programmes in Healthcare, the educational tutor Massimo Guasconi, and six students from the Nursing Degree Programme, who will participate in the study day organised by the Florence Nightingale Foundation and subsequently attend the commemorative service at Westminster Abbey.
Historically dedicated to the nursing profession in memory of Florence Nightingale’s birth, 12 May also traditionally marks the conclusion of the educational pathway for the new Fellows of the Florence Nightingale Foundation. During the day, the Fellowship Award Ceremony will also take place, an important international recognition that this year will be conferred upon Prof. Antonio Bonacaro.
The Florence Nightingale Foundation Fellowship is one of the most prestigious international programmes dedicated to the development of nursing leadership and recognises commitment to promoting innovative clinical and educational practices focused on quality, patient safety, and the advancement of nursing education.
The participation of students in this international experience represents an important opportunity for educational and professional growth, encouraging dialogue with international academic and healthcare realities and reinforcing the global dimension of the nursing profession.
“On this special day for the nursing profession, it is both an honour and a pleasure to be awarded the title of Fellow of the Florence Nightingale Foundation, which I accept with gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility. I dedicate it to my colleagues, to the students present here, and to those students who are virtually participating in these celebrations through us. May it serve as a source of inspiration and renewed spirit of service for our communities, wherever they may be” – Antonio Bonacaro, Associate Professor of Nursing Science and President of the Master’s Programmes in Healthcare.
credits Florence Nightingale Foundation