On International Nurses Day yesterday, I went to write a celebratory message to my nursing colleagues in our work chat. I wanted to add an emoji to this message and as I know that currently a nurse emoji does not exist, I went to find some relevant alternatives and that got me thinking.....why is there not a nurse emoji?

So in light of this and also of it being 200 years since the birth of Florence Nightingale, I thought that I’m sure it is time, and indeed there is no better time, for there to be an official nurse emoji!

Currently, when you type in ‘nurse’ on your smartphone keyboard, a doctor emoji will appear. Like all incredible NHS staff, care staff and key workers, I have never been more inspired and amazed by our phenomenal nurses, nursing associates and all those within the nursing profession, than over the last few months. From their unbelievably hard work and adaption to completely new and unfamiliar roles to their compassion, dedication and to keeping a smile on their face throughout such a challenging time. I would just love to see our profession that we are so proud and privileged to be a part of.....be officially recognised in its own right as an emoji!

I have created this petition in the hope that it might reach the ear of Unicode Consortium (the group who select emojis used by smartphones) and Apple (it’s worth a try!) and would be so grateful if they might very kindly consider creating and releasing an official nurse emoji that could be used universally in all types of social media formats and phone devices. It would be fantastic to have a sequence of emojis that are inclusive of gender, race and ethnicity. This would allow all nurses, members of the nursing profession and everyone to use this with their colleagues, family and friends worldwide and I’m sure it would be one very well used emoji! 

Thank you for taking the time to click on this link and to have a read!

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#officialnurseemoji

(Please note - these emoji designs have been created specifically for campaign purposes only and are not an intended mock design for a official nurse emoji)