Nurses make up more than 50% of the health workforce in many countries and have a vital role in providing healthcare for all. They are an essential link between people in communities, and the health care professionals and complex health care systems that provide care.
In honor of the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth, the World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the year 2020 as the ”Year of the Nurse and Midwife”. This designation is essential to strengthen the nursing profession and honor the important role of all nurses globally.
This celebration will bring recognition of the essential role nurses and midwives have in bringing health care services to everyone. As health literacy is a precursor to health, nurse leaders can utilize the recommendations in the policy brief, “Call for Action: Nurses must play a critical role to enhance health literacy” to enhance health equity and improve the health of populations. The overarching goal of this policy brief is to influence nursing policies by providing suggested health literacy recommendations across three domains: practice, systems of care and partnerships.
Health Literacy Partners looks forward to celebrating the Year of the Nurse by partnering with nurse leaders to endorse health literacy policies, strategies and initiatives that will align with the provision of equitable care for all.