Nurses have sent a warning to political parties on International Nurses Day, in the lead up to the federal election.

With this year’s theme ‘Nurses: a force for change - improving health systems’ resilience’, several key nursing groups have called for the nation’s 366,000 nurses to be celebrated, listened to, and to be included at the heart of the nation’s health care reforms.

The call on International Nurses Day, which celebrates the birthday anniversary of Florence Nightingale, comes as the 2016 Roy Morgan Image of Professions Survey rated nurses as the most ethical and honest profession, out of 30 professions, for the 22nd year in a row.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) acting federal secretary Annie Butler said the theme was particularly relevant amid the ANMF’s fight to restore billions of dollars axed from health funding while creating an equitable and sustainable public health care system for all Australians.

“Nurses now represent the largest proportion of the nation’s health workforce and continue to be voted by the community as Australia’s most trusted professionals,” she said.

“As Australia’s largest union, with a growing membership, the ANMF and our members are a force to be reckoned with and all political parties should be listening to us.”

Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN) chief executive officer Adjunct Associate Professor Kim Ryan said all political parties will be making promises in health, and change will not be achieved without nurses, including the nation’s 20,000 mental health nurses, leading the way.

“Nurses make up the largest workforce in health and also in mental health,” she said.

“Quite simply, all of the promises made by politicians won’t mean anything if they don’t think about the role of nurses in these changes and reforms, and include them in the stakeholder groups that advise them.”

Ms Ryan said the community values nurses and so should governments and policy-makers.

“Too often we are left out of committees and decision-making processes and our opinions are sought through consultation, not valuing the role and scope of the nursing profession.

“With over 300,000 nurses in Australia, we are a force for change.”

New South Wales Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) general secretary Brett Holmes said nurses remain under pressure with the state losing $1.2 billion in federal funds for nursing home residents with complex needs in the budget.

Mr Holmes said the cut comes as the State Government recently revealed its intention to remove the requirement to have at least one registered nurse on duty around-the-clock in the state’s aged care facilities.

“Both these changes are a recipe for disaster in NSW, promoting a dangerous model of care that permits completely untrained staff to manage patients with complex care needs.”

In Queensland, nurses are hoping for a double celebration as the parliament prepares to vote on the introduction of nurse to patient ratios.

If the legislation is passed, the state will become the fourth government in the world to legislate on nurse to patient ratios.

Victoria passed the legislation in 2015, Wales received nurse to patient ratios earlier this year, while California was the first in the world to introduce the laws in 2014.

Queensland Nurses’ Union (QNU) secretary Beth Mohle said nurse to patient ratios will save lives.

“Ratios will also result in significant cost savings through reduced health care costs, retaining staff and reducing patient complications and adverse events,” she said.