The University of Parma had the honour of participating in the prestigious Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service 2025, held on 12 May at Westminster Abbey in London, on the occasion of International Nurses Day. Representing the University were three third-year students from the Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, accompanied by Dr Antonio Bonacaro, Associate Professor in Nursing Sciences.
Prior to attending the commemorative event, the nursing students also took part, during the morning and early afternoon, in a study day organised by the Florence Nightingale Foundation, together with students from universities affiliated with the Foundation and representatives from numerous countries around the world. This moment of international exchange represented a valuable opportunity for professional and cultural enrichment, aimed at strengthening a global and humanistic vision of nursing care.
Organised by the Florence Nightingale Foundation, the event was attended by distinguished representatives from the political sphere, civil and military healthcare sectors, and religious institutions from the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries. The commemorative service paid tribute to the legacy of Florence Nightingale, pioneer of modern nursing, and celebrated the irreplaceable contribution of nurses throughout history—in times of peace and in times of crisis, such as the two World Wars and the recent COVID-19 pandemic—often at the cost of their own lives.
Among the most significant moments of the ceremony was the procession of the lamp, a universal symbol of nursing care. The historic oil lamp, used by Florence Nightingale during her mission at the Scutari Field Hospital in Crimea, was solemnly carried to the High Altar of the Abbey, evoking deep emotion among the attendees.
Another powerful moment was the collective recitation of the traditional pledge: “May this lamp signify our commitment to serve the sick and injured, a commitment made by Florence Nightingale, handed down from generation to generation, and one which we joyfully and humbly reaffirm today.”
The participation of the Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Nursing of the University of Parma in this solemn international celebration represents a strong recognition of the value of Italian nursing education on the global stage and reaffirms the University’s commitment to promoting the core values of the profession: compassion, competence, and ethical responsibility.
