2020 as the Global Year of the Nurse and Midwife: Advocating for Greater Investment in these Crucial Health Workers

2020 marks the beginning of the Global Year of the Nurse and Midwife. The World Health Organization has designated this in honor of the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. Moreover, Nightingale is a celebrated figure who greatly influenced policies around proper medical care.

“This year will be dedicated to highlighting the enormous sacrifices and contributions of nurses and midwives, and to ensuring that the shortage of these vital professions across the globe be addressed,” said Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director General of the WHO.

When WHO designated 2020 to be the Global Year of the Nurse and Midwife, they had no idea that the recent pandemic happen. With this phenomenon unfolding, it also highlighted the important role our nurses and midwives play in the medical community.

WHO warned the world will be needing additional 9 million nurses and midwives. This is to achieve their commitment of providing health access to all people by 2030. Therefore, they are advocating for greater investment in these crucial health workers this year.

Quoted from the UN’s report, “During the year, WHO will push for measures to ensure that nurses and midwives can work to their full potential. Key areas for investment include employing more specialist nurses, making midwives and nurses central to primary health care, and supporting them in health promotion and disease prevention.”

Nurses and midwives from the backbone of healthcare provision in the US. In addition to this, Filipino nurses comprise the largest group of internationally educated nurses in the United States. Moreover, it is consistent with the 2020 first quarterly NCLEX exam statistics. Wherein a total of 2,495 Filipino nurses passed the NCLEX Exam (RN and PN counted) administered from January 1 to March 24, 2020.

The first step to getting ready to be a Registered Nurse in the US is to apply for the NCLEX.

IPASS Processing has assisted thousands of Filipino nurses in achieving their goal of becoming licensed in the USA. If you are interested in applying for your exam, IPASS can help. It is our utmost goal to help you pass the NCLEX exam!