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Nurses across the globe take to Twitter to celebrate Nurses’ Day 2015

Join nursing peers from across the world by tweeting why you love your job: use the hashtag #WhyInurse

Nurses across the world are marking Nurses’ Day 2015 today by describing why they love the profession.

The theme of this year’s event is the Twitter-based hashtag #WhyInurse, which encourages staff to share the reasons why they do their jobs and what they enjoy about their career.

Carol Butler, a ward manager at Countess of Chester Hospital, said she joined the profession because she was so impressed by the care she received during a course of fertility treatment following the death of her young son. ‘My fertility nurse was absolutely wonderful – so brilliant in fact that 25 years later I have a job that I wouldn’t change for the world.’

Christie Watson, a nurse for 20 years and a Costa First Novel Award winner for Tiny Sunbirds Far Away, about a family growing up in Nigeria, said: ‘I’m proud of being a novelist but I’m even prouder of being a nurse. Nursing has allowed me the privilege of witnessing what it is to be human.’

The RCN will mark Nurses’ Day – held annually on Florence Nightingale’s birthday – with a public lecture on May 13 titled: ‘A force for change: What is the modern nurse?’ It will be chaired by BBC health correspondent Jane Dreaper, alongside a panel including England's chief nursing officer Jane Cummings.

RCN general secretary Peter Carter said: ‘Nurses’ Day is a great opportunity for nurses to truly celebrate their vocation and the huge difference they make to the lives of millions of people worldwide. These are challenging times for nurses so it is great to return to the heart of nursing and reflect on the very special reasons why nurses do what they do.’