It’s International Nurses Day today – an international day observed around the world each year on 12 May which is the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. The event mark the contributions that nurses make to society. The theme for the 2023 resource is Our Nurses. Our Future.
Our Nurses. Our Future. is a global campaign which sets out what the global community wants for nursing into the future in order to address the health challenges and improve global health for all. As a community we need to learn from the lessons of the pandemic and translate these into actions of the future.
With the release of the State of the World’s Nursing report, the Global Strategic Directions for Nursing & Midwifery, the Sustain and Retain in 2022 and Beyond and many other important publications, ICN and other organisations have shown the evidence for change and called for action. It is now time to look to the future and demonstrate what these investments will mean for nursing and healthcare. The Our Nurses. Our Future. campaign will shine the light on nurses and on a brighter future.
Nurses to continue raising voices for change
Locally, the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) says that nurses across the public, private and aged care sectors are spending International Nurses Day reflecting on their tireless efforts to provide quality care to patients, residents and local communities despite the current workforce challenges – one nurse-midwife told The Echo that most nurses are probably just desperately hoping that they might actually get a lunch break today (or any day).
Determined to secure a brighter future for the profession, NSWNMA General Secretary, Shaye Candish, said the day was an opportunity to recognise the essential contribution of nurses and pay tribute to nurses who speak up for change. ‘Nurses are vital for our healthcare system. Their critical thinking and expert coordination prove nurses must be involved whenever decisions are made about healthcare reform or new policies.’
‘Over the last 12 months we’ve seen commitments from governments to deliver much needed changes in the aged care and public health sectors which will have an immense impact on our ability to provide the quality care patients and residents rightly deserve.
‘This progress is thanks to nurses and midwives across NSW demanding better, and it highlights their vital role in advocating for improved healthcare for all.’
Leaders in fighting for change
NSWNMA Assistant General Secretary Michael Whaites, said nurses are not just leaders in healthcare, but also leaders in fighting for change.
‘Our members have campaigned for evidence-based nurse-to-patient ratios for many years. They shouldered the brunt of the pandemic over three long years, and they’ve gone to extraordinary lengths to deliver patient-centred care, often to the detriment of their own health and wellbeing.
‘This International Nurses Day is no different. Today, we’ll see nurses and midwives taking protected industrial action for two-hours at two major Sydney private hospitals as they fight to secure safe staffing ratios and a fair pay rise that recognises their cost of living pressures.
‘We look forward to continuing to build an even stronger future for the professions of nursing and midwifery, and we’ll keep fighting for as long as it takes.’
If you see a nurse or midwife today, be sure to celebrate them and their contributions to our community – and hope they get lunch (many of them won’t).
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