Correspondence

2010 International year of the Nurse

It is that time of the year again. On the 12th May Nurses all over the world will be celebrating “Nurses day” However I have to ask the question? Did you know about this? Did you know that apart from all the excitement leading up to the 2010 Soccer event, that somewhere people were getting ready to celebrate ,not only the birthday of Florence Nightingale but “The Year Of the Nurse”!

This year 2010 is the centennial year of modern nursing (1810—1910-2010). A special program honouring the anniversary of the death of Florence Nightingale was held on the 25th April 2010 at the National Cathedral in Washington. The theme for the 2010 Nurses Day will be, “The delivery of quality Care, serving our communities, and leading in the provision of Chronic care” as per ICN.

Just recently I fractured my arm, and had to be admitted to hospital. Being a patient was difficult. The dreaded words “ you need to have surgery “filled me not only with apprehension, but also made me realise that the ordinary patient must have visions of all sorts of nasty things that might happen to them. The fact that I had to sign something, declaring that I knew and understood that there might be complications and, because of the possibility that I might not wake up, was a very scary experience.

As an experienced OR practioner, I was well aware of the procedure that would be followed, but on that day I was as nervous as any other patient would be. The friendly ward staff, the care and compassion of the OR staff, however soon set my mind at ease, and very soon I was told to open my eyes as everything was over.

My experience as a patient was the best I could have wished for. My passion for nursing has deepened. I would like to pay tribute to all those dedicated nurses that spent many hours of their lives caring for the sick, the injured, the aged, and the many children in their care. Many bad things are said about nursing in general, but nobody ever takes the time to share a story of excellent care, compassion, commitment and loyalty to a profession that has to” make things happen”.

Nurse’s day is hardly ever heard of or recognised by the media. I have never seen it on a calendar or in a diary, and most members of the public have never even heard of such a day. My wish for the future would be that somewhere in your diary, after 2010, there will be a reminder that every year on the 12th May we celebrate “Nurses day” and that as a possible patient of the future you will spend a few moments in thought, about the meaning of this. Remember that nurses are only human. There are many days when they feel vulnerable, tired, when they desperately seek inspiration to confront the many challenges in health care. Spare a thought, a prayer, a moment of consideration, before you condemn! As for me ”I SALUTE YOU”.

Villi Pieterse
082 747 7187