This author's article presents the results of a study, the purpose of which was to present reflections of the profession of a nurse and, nursing, in the diversity of such a type of collecting as philately - on postage stamps, envelopes, postal blocks, from different countries of the world. As illustrations, the article presents screenshots of numerous philatelic materials.

Among the many professions of a person, the profession of a nurse occupies an important and honorable place! Women have long been involved in the issue of providing assistance and care for sick and wounded people. Therefore, over time, the honorary name was assigned to them - “sisters of mercy”! Since the Crimean War, and the work of the English nurse, Florence Nightingale, with her famous night lamp, became the prototype of the first nurse, ready to come to the aid of wounded and sick people at any time of the day or night! Every country in the world had and still has its own women heroes, national sisters of mercy. In medical schools and colleges around the world, new ones are trained every year. Young nurses for the needs of their countries. This profession is very prestigious and honorable! It is no coincidence that the heroic work of nurses has found its rightful place in all means of world collecting and, first of all, in philately. Many thousands of stamps dedicated to nurses have been issued all over the world! Naturally, it is almost impossible to present all of them within the framework of one small research article. In this regard, a small, most interesting (in the opinion of the author of this article) part of them was selected.

Aim of study

The purpose of this author's research article is to reflect the representation in philately, in all its diversity, of collection materials from around the world dedicated to nurses and nursing.

 When writing this article, the author used the method of literary critical analysis of all available, both domestic and foreign, sources of information on the issue under study. As illustrative material in the article, screenshots of images of philatelic items found on the Internet were taken, with strict adherence to the indication of the sources from which they were borrowed (professional medical articles and articles of philatelic collectors and their communities). In total, this article presents 81 philatelic materials, of which 72 postage stamps, 8 postal envelopes, 1 postal block, from different countries of the world [1-51].

As already mentioned, there are many tens, if not thousands, of philatelic materials dedicated to nurses and the nursing process! In his article, the author tried to highlight some groups of collectible philatelic materials, such as, in particular, assistance to doctors, care for different groups of patients - children, the elderly, the sick and wounded, nursing care during military operations, on the battlefield.At the beginning of the article, in Figure 1, a small philatelic selection is presented, dedicated to Florence Nightingale, as the founder of world nursing, and who became its symbol in many countries of the world [1-10].

Figure 1. A selection of philatelic materials dedicated to Florence Nightigale

Further, in Figure 2, a collectible philatelic selection dedicated to nurses from different countries of the world is presented [11-33]. 

Figure 2: Philatelic collection dedicated to nurses and nursing

Figure 3 shows a small, collectible selection dedicated to pediatric nursing and caring for sick children [34-44]. 

Figure 3: Nursing in pediatrics, as reflected by philately

And, in conclusion of this article, in Figure 4, a small philatelic selection is presented, thematically dedicated to the role and place of nurses in providing assistance to surgical patients, wounded soldiers, during military operations and patients when they receive injuries [6, 45-51].

Figure 4. Philatelic selection dedicated to nursing in emergency medicine

This concludes the first in a series of articles dedicated to nurses and nursing. The author, in the near future, plans to prepare a number of new articles on the issue under study.

1. The author of the article successfully managed to realize the goals stated in this article.

2. The collections of collectible philatelic materials presented in this research article, in a fairly complete volume, cover the stated topic of the article.

3. Screenshots of philatelic materials, brightly and appropriately, complement the text materials of this article.

4. A large number of philatelic materials presented. Convincingly shows the significant volume of postage stamps and envelopes that vividly and colorfully represent nurses and nursing, as reflected in philately.

The author notes the complete absence of any conflicts, both with individuals and legal entities.