The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has launched an exhibition to celebrate its centenary this year.
The Voice of Nursing: Celebrating 100 years of the RCN is hosted by the RCN Library and Heritage Centre in London and showcases the history of the union.
The exhibition contains objects from the RCN's collections and includes sections on history, nursing education and specialisms. The displays also explore representations of nursing in fiction and popular culture.
The voices of nurses are spread across the exhibition in the form of oral histories, diaries, letters and artefacts.
'Reaching our centenary is incredibly exciting and we look forward to celebrating this milestone with people across the country over the course of 2016,' said Janet Davies, the chief executive of the RCN.
'This very special exhibition uncovers how the RCN has developed from a small women’s organisation to the voice of the nursing profession.
'I know I’m biased but nursing is one of the most important professions in the world and this exhibition is our opportunity to celebrate each and every member of the nursing workforce – past and present,' she added.
Testimonies from nurses showcase the profession's breadth and scope which includes a wide range of specialism from children's nursing to caring for patients in custody.
Women's health nurse Tara Egan said: 'From feelings of loss and grief during a a miscarriage, to the joy of conceiving with fertility treatment, we are there to give care and compassion at every stage of a woman’s life.'
The exhibition is open from the 4 January at the RCN Library and Heritage Centre.