SXU to Honor International Year of the Nurse, Florence Nightingale Centennial

Prayer Service in Conjunction with Global Prayer Event in Washington, D.C.

Chicago (April 9, 2010) Saint Xavier University will host “Celebrating Care: Honoring Nurses’ Voices, Values and Wisdom,” a commemorative prayer service recognizing the 2010 International Year of the Nurse and the 100th Anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s death on Sun., April 25. The event coincides with the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. recognizing the International Year of the Nurse and Nightingale’s Centennial at its Global Prayer Service.

The service will be held at 1 p.m. at the Chicago campus’ McDonough Chapel, 3700 W. 103rd St. It is free and open to all nurses and their families. To ensure seating, please R.S.V.P. with the School of Nursing at (773) 298-3700.

The event includes a ritual Blessing of Hands for nurses and student nurses, prayers from the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist traditions. The service will include various readings, including one from Sister Mary Clare Moore, a Sister of Mercy and friend of Nightingale. Light refreshments will be offered after the service.

Attendees also can sign The Nightingale Declaration for Our Healthy World. The Declaration is a multi-faceted public awareness campaign involving the United Nations and UN Member States and aiming to achieve “a healthy world by 2020.”

Twelve SXU nursing students will further explore Nightingale’s legacy from May 17 to 27 on a study abroad trip to Turkey. The students will learn about the history of modern nursing and visit the Selimiye Kislasi, the actual site where Nightingale treated soldiers during the Crimean War.

The Service is sponsored by SXU’s School of Nursing, SXU’s Student Nurses Association and Sigma Theta Tau International, Alpha Omicron chapter.

For more information, please contact Evelyn Norton at norton@sxu.edu.

-SXU-

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Jay Foot, Executive Director of Media Relations
O: (773) 298-3937
C: (773) 617-3632
foot@sxu.edu