International Nurses Day 2025: Honoring the Heart of Healthcare 

Every May 12, the world pauses to honor the irreplaceable contributions of nurses on International Nurses Day—a celebration marked on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. But for the Philippines, this day resonates deeper. Our nation has long been recognized not only for the exceptional quality of care our nurses provide at home, but for their dedication that reaches across oceans, serving communities around the globe.

In 2025, the theme of the International Council of Nurses (ICN) is “Our Nurses. Our Future. The Economic Power of Care.” It’s a call to recognize the economic, social, and moral value nurses add—not just as caregivers, but as leaders, educators, advocates, and nation builders.

Nurses: The Backbone of Philippine Healthcare

Whether in bustling tertiary hospitals like the Philippine General Hospital or community health stations in the far-flung barangays of Mindanao, nurses are the critical link between patients and the healthcare system. They provide essential care, administer medications, educate patients and families, and respond to emergencies with compassion and skill.

In fact, the World Health Organization estimates that nurses and midwives represent more than half of the global health workforce. In the Philippines, according to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), there are over 900,000 licensed nurses, although many are now serving abroad.

The Global Impact of Filipino Nurses

It’s no secret that Filipino nurses are among the most sought-after in the world. From the United States to the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia to Japan, Filipino nurses have built a reputation for professionalism, empathy, and competence.

Remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), many of whom are nurses, are a major economic lifeline for the country. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), OFW remittances exceeded $36 billion in 2023, with a large share coming from the healthcare sector.

But their value extends far beyond economics. Filipino nurses help address critical staffing shortages abroad, particularly in aging societies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they stood at the frontlines across continents, sacrificing time, safety, and sometimes their lives to care for others.

Local Heroes Amid Global Challenges

While the international spotlight shines brightly, many nurses remain unsung heroes here at home. In recent years, local nurses have juggled chronic understaffing, low wages, and the psychological toll of health crises. Yet they persist—organizing vaccination drives, delivering maternal care in remote barangays, and educating communities on disease prevention.

In 2024, the Department of Health (DOH) increased its efforts to retain local nurses through programs like Nurse Deployment Projects (NDP), promising greater support and more equitable compensation. Advocates continue to push for legislative reforms, including the full implementation of the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 (RA 9173), which mandates a higher minimum salary grade for nurses.

Innovations and Leadership in Nursing

Today’s Filipino nurse is not only a bedside caregiver—they are leaders and innovators. From developing telehealth systems in rural clinics to spearheading infection control protocols in major hospitals, nurses are essential to public health progress.

Academic institutions such as the University of the Philippines College of Nursing and St. Paul University Manila are producing nurse-leaders who now serve in research, policy-making, and international humanitarian missions.

The Call for Recognition and Support

To honor nurses is to invest in them. This International Nurses Day is a reminder that appreciation must go hand-in-hand with action: improved working conditions, fair pay, continued education, and inclusion in decision-making bodies.

As we recover from the global health emergencies of recent years and face rising chronic disease rates, nurses will remain at the center of health resilience. Strengthening nursing means strengthening the health system.

Celebrating Heroes in Uniform

This May 12, let us remember the quiet strength of the nurse who holds a patient’s hand in their final moments. Let us celebrate the determination of those who leave families behind to heal others abroad. And let us honor the dreamers in nursing schools who choose this path not for fame or fortune, but for purpose.

To the nurses in white coats and scrubs, in PPE and in classrooms—you are the heart of healthcare. Your compassion heals beyond medicine. Your courage inspires nations. Your care carries us all.