A voice to lead: International Nurses Day 2022

Just about every yr, on 12 Might, I consider excellent delight in celebrating and demonstrating my appreciation for nursing colleagues performing across the overall health and treatment process on International Nurses Day.  This date marks the beginning date of Florence Nightingale in 1820.

Lots of of us instantly imagine of Nightingale holding a lamp.  In your mind’s eye, if you know a little additional about her record, you could location her in Crimea, assisting the wounded British troopers. Few people – or less than she warrants – know to credit score her for the immensely important public well being management role which she performed.  She recognised that much too a lot of people ended up dying from bad sanitation and the absence of effective infection prevention regulate interventions.

It was not until finally I started off doing the job in community well being that I totally appreciated how Nightingale experienced employed statistics to achieve important health and fitness reform. Possessing gathered clinic mortality info for 2 many years, though out in Crimea, Nightingale made use of a then pioneering way to present her findings. Making use of her rose diagrams, she was able to illustrate that most men and women have been dying from lousy sanitation and an infection, which was considered largely preventable.

I also believe about the bravery and leadership of Mary Jane Seacole, a nurse whose operate and affect have been missing in time for the reason that of her color.  Seacole, born 23 November 1805, showed immense courage in placing up the British Lodge and in going to the entrance line to present care to hurt troopers all through the Crimean war.

Her story has lastly occur to gentle and she rightly warrants to be remembered for her bravery, tenacity and inclusivity.  This is anything which has under no circumstances been more significant to our nursing occupation, as we recognise the massive inequalities which exist throughout our communities.

Celebrating nursing heritage

So, in 2022, we ought to celebrate the two Seacole and Nightingale, who shown that our nursing occupation could be a voice to direct. They had been brave leaders, statisticians and public well being pioneers who challenged the environment to do factors differently to conserve and boost life.

Our obtain to details has absolutely enhanced considering that the 1800s and so has our comprehending of the main causes of untimely morbidity and mortality. We have also superior our information of the evidenced dependent interventions which can be employed to minimize preventable dying and sick health and fitness across the daily life system, from preconception to older age. Even so, there is however a inclination for our career to emphasis on the management and remedy of disorder and unwell wellness, fairly than us placing an equivalent concentrate on protecting against, safeguarding and advertising the public’s wellness.

As the globe begins to get better from the COVID-19 pandemic, it will be vital for the nursing profession to contemplate the lessons learnt and what demands to transform to permit us to really develop back again greater and fairer.

The pandemic has furnished us all with an option to see with bigger clarity that all nurses participate in an significant general public wellness part, regardless of their speciality or environment. It is now important that we construct on this knowledge and think about the means in which we can get a higher purpose in stopping illness, defending wellness and endorsing wellbeing. The nursing profession will also play an crucial position in addressing the widening wellbeing inequalities which has been produced at any time clearer by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This Global Nurses Day I will celebrate nursing colleagues from the earlier – a heritage we can be very pleased of.  I will also get satisfaction in thanking all the colleagues in the existing and upcoming who are creating on our strong keep track of record as a occupation and who are, collectively, a voice to lead.

Nursing is an remarkable occupation and I am proud to be component of the most reliable career.  We nurses will participate in an vital job in driving a 10 years of transformation and alter in the 2020s, which will result in extra folks living extended and healthier lives, no matter of exactly where you dwell and how your lifestyle began. Centre to this accomplishment is for all nurses to see on their own as general public overall health specialists who, like Mary and Florence, can act with bravery and candour to increase health and fitness outcomes for anyone.

Pleased Intercontinental Nurses Working day!