International Nurses Day is celebrated each year on 12 May, marking the birthday of Florence Nightingale, widely regarded as the founder of modern nursing. The day recognises and celebrates the dedication, compassion and expertise that nurses bring to healthcare systems across the world.

I recently attended an expo at a local university where third-year nursing students were presenting their assignments to a first-year student audience.

The theme of the projects was simple: “What would you have wanted to know as a first-year nursing student?”

Scrubs are more than just a uniform — they are a powerful symbol of the nursing profession and the vital role nurses play in healthcare. Worn daily in hospitals, clinics, aged care facilities and community settings, scrubs represent professionalism, teamwork and a shared commitment to patient care.