St. John Ambulance in Ireland celebrates Nurses Day 2011

Written by Oliver Allen RGN

St. John Ambulance is proudly supporting Nurses Day on May 12th. Every year on this day the International Council of Nursing (ICN), among many other nursing organisations across the world, celebrate International Nurses Day to acknowledge the remarkable work carried out by nurses across the globe.

The Brigade recognises the contribution its nurses have made to the organisation and patient care since its establishment in 1903. In the early years of the Brigade nurses, both professional and auxiliary, cared for patients at home and abroad during the Great War. These nurses sometimes worked in the most horrific conditions nursing wounded soldiers on board hospital trains, ships and in makeshift hospitals.

One of these nurses, Sophia Violet Barrett, from the Carrickmines Nursing Division, even lost her life in the line of duty when the boat she was travelling on from Dun Laoghaire was torpedoed by a German U-boat. She was one of many nurses on board beginning their journey to France to work as VAD nurses.

Nowadays St. John Ambulance nurses like other volunteers give up their time freely to teach, attend public duties and develop clinical policies.

Using their knowledge and skills St. John Ambulance nurses manage and provide first aid treatments at various public events ranging from concerts and football matches to coordinating care at field hospitals at the Dublin & Cork City Marathons.

St. John Nurses also play a vital role in delivering courses ranging from First Aid and Caring for the Sick to Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) level. St. John Ambulance nurses also assist with the implementation of the Brigade’s Hepatitis B Vaccination Programme for its members. 

First Nursing Officer Mr. George Jefferies said, "There is a growing number of nurses and student nurses in the St. John Ambulance and it is important that we use this day to thank them and recognise the contribution that these healthcare professionals make to the organisation and patient care".

The date May 12th was chosen as it is the birth date of Florence Nightingale, a nurse who made significant improvements to public health and nursing practice. One of Florence Nightingales most famous contributions to health was during the Crimean War when she and fellow nurses reduced the death rate at a field hospital from 42% to 2% by implementing better standards of care and hygiene. In her later years in 1860 Nightingale laid the foundations for professional nurse training by opening a nursing school at St. Thomas' Hospital in London. In recognition of her contribution to the nursing profession Florence Nightingale was admitted to the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, as a Dame of Grace.  The Most Venerable Order was the parent institution for St. John Ambulance.

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Registered nurses are vital members of the St. John Ambulance. As champions of patient safety, they are responsible for ensuring that our clinical standards and high quality of service is maintained. Working with other healthcare professionals and first aid members, nurses ensure that our services continue to make the difference between a life lost and a life saved.

Our nurse volunteers range from students and clinical nurse specialists to advanced nurse practitioners. If you would be interested in making difference to your community and using your skills in a different light then drop us an e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and one of our nurses will get back to you. For general information on the St. John Ambulance Brigade of Ireland visit www.stjohn.ie.

Oliver Allen is a nurse in the City of Dublin Division of the St. John Ambulance who is currently on leave and working as an emergency nurse in Queen’s Hospital in London. While he is on leave from the St. John Ambulance in Dublin he continues to give up his time with St. John in London. He was also an active member of the INMO Youth Forum during his student years.