Visiting Sister's Day
May 12, Monday
When is it celebrated?
The specific date of the celebration can vary depending on the province or institution. It is often observed on May 12—International Nurses Day—but sometimes it is held as a separate event to specifically emphasize the importance of home and community care.
What does a home care and community nurse do?
These professionals perform a wide range of tasks aimed at prevention, care, and supporting patients outside of a hospital setting:
- Conducting medical-social home visits
- Caring for the elderly, chronically ill, and people with disabilities
- Monitoring medication intake and patients' health status
- Educational work within families and communities
- Vaccination, wound dressings, measuring blood pressure and blood sugar
- Participation in emergency situations in rural areas
How is the holiday celebrated?
The celebration may include both formal and informal activities:
- Presenting awards and certificates to outstanding staff
- Workshops and professional conferences on home nursing issues
- Publications in the media and social networks featuring stories about community-based work
- Internal meetings within primary healthcare service teams
- Educational campaigns to strengthen the role of nursing care in the community
Significance of the holiday
This day is important not only for recognizing the work of individual specialists but also for raising public awareness about how critically important "local" medical care is. Home care nursing services act as a link between the healthcare system and vulnerable populations, and they help ease the burden on hospital systems while improving the quality of life for patients.