Great nurses as advocates for patients and the public good
 Each year nurses across Canada celebrate National Nursing Week. National Nursing Week is an opportunity to celebrate Canadian nurses for their provision of outstanding patient-centred care and dedication to advancing the health system.
National Nursing Week is a time to recognize the work of these nurses and how much their work touches our families.
At your side. Nurses across Alberta, including Registered Nurses, Registered Psychiatric Nurses, and Licensed Practical Nurses work hard each day caring for patients, residents, and clients. Nurses work with other front line health care workers each day to provide the best care possible for their patients.
On your side. Nurses in Alberta have a proud history as strong advocates for improving patient care and strengthening our public health care system. Whether advocating on issues ranging from safe staffing levels to increased occupational health and safety, Nurses in Alberta always have patient care in mind.
 The nursing profession from Florence Nightingale forward has a proud history of advocating for better care and better conditions for their fellow citizens.
Nightingale came to prominence during the Crimean War for her pioneering nursing work and was dubbed "The Lady with the Lamp" after her habit of making rounds at night to tend injured soldiers. Nightingale laid the foundation of professional nursing with the establishment of the first secular nursing school in the world at St Thomas' Hospital in London in 1860.
 Lady Ishbel Aberdeen, wife of Canada's then governor-general heard vivid accounts of the hardship and illness affecting women and children in isolated areas during a visit to Vancouver in 1896. Later that year, she heard more stories at at the annual meeting in Halifax of the National Council of Women, which she helped to found. She went on to pressure the government to create the Victorian
Order of Nurses and serve as its first President. "In the towns they will go to those who cannot now afford the care of trained nurses and often die for lack of it... " she wrote.
The nurse's Code of Ethics calls for advocacy
The advocacy role for nurses continues to be well-recognized, including in the professionís Code of Ethics. Some brief extracts from the code:
"Working with individuals, families, groups, populations and communities to expand the range of health-care choices avail- able, recognizing that some people have limited choices because of social, economic, geographic or other factors that lead to inequities."
"Understanding that some groups in society are systemically dis-advantaged, which leads to diminished health and well-being. Nurses work to improve the quality of lives of people who are part of disadvantaged and/or vulnerable groups and communities, and they take action to overcome barriers to health care."
"Advocating for health-care systems that ensure accessibility, universality and comprehensiveness of necessary health-care services."
"Maintaining awareness of major health concerns such as poverty, inadequate shelter, food insecurity and violence. Nurses work individually and with others for social justice and to advocate for laws, policies and procedures designed to bring about equity."
"Maintaining awareness of broader global health concerns such as violations of human rights, war, world hunger, gender inequities and environmental pollution. Nurses work individually and with others to bring about social change."
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