Take time to celebrate nurses
A warm thank you to Mediclinic for sharing this article with Remedi Medical Aid Scheme and giving us permission to use it. We're republishing it in honour of International Nurses' Day on 12 May. Nurses are an essential part of the healthcare system. In hospital, they are the primary caregivers.
Outside hospital, they offer primary healthcare, give vaccines, and give sound medical advice for common ailments. We can't do without them and thank them for their dedication and compassion.
International Nurses' Day is an important opportunity to recognise the unwavering contributions of the nursing community. With the most recent worldwide challenges posed by COVID-19 it is perhaps appropriate to take time out to understand how the pandemic has impacted nursing, teams and individuals.
In a recent Mediclinic publication, leadership looked at personal and team contributions to care during the pandemic. Some special stories were highlighted in the Braving the waves publication, and personal memories were shared.
A few of these messages include:
Diane van Schoor (Nursing Manager) joined Mediclinic Midstream just three months before the COVID-19 pandemic reached South Africa. She states, "The amazing team I walked into, nothing could prepare me; nothing was ever too much. Even though COVID-19 was an uphill journey, we have learned so much. We've learned how to care differently. Suddenly, your smile and eyes are not visible anymore, so we had to think how we can still care in a way that's different."
Vanessa Moodley, Unit Manager of the medical Critical Care Unit (CCU), Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, believes, "COVID-19 taught us to actually get to know the strengths and weaknesses of each member of the team; it was an opportunity to really get to know your staff. We became closely knit and more aware of each other's needs, all pulling together."
Lynette Louw of Mediclinic Pietermaritzburg, speaks positively about Suzan Mtambo (Clinical Facilitator), "Suzan demonstrated her value through helpful, competent and disciplined leadership, which became more pronounced during a severe outbreak in our region." Unfortunately, Suzan got infected and was nursed in her own CCU for eight days. Suzan says of her admission, "I refused to be admitted to any hospital but my own. I had full confidence in the systems and skills that my team helped establish."