International Nurses Day is celebrated on 12 May every year. This year, the day is celebrated under the theme ‘Our Nurses, Our Future’. 

What does this theme mean to me and you, as we celebrate our Nurses, Our Future? The International Council of Nurses, which is a global organisation representing all nurses through nursing associations across the globe, came up with this theme as a global campaign to set out what the organisation wants for the nursing profession in the future, and to address the global health challenges, whilst improving global health for all. 

The lessons learnt from the Covid-19 pandemic need to be translated into actions for the future to meet the needs of the new normal.

The nurses’ hard work and the precious contributions through commitment and dedication to the health systems must be valued all at times. Despite the circumstances, this is high time nurses are highly respected because of the roles they play at all levels of healthcare. Nurses deserve to be protected, and more importantly, there must be strong and consistent investments for nurses to make sure they are retained in the health systems.

Clothed in scrubs or a white shirt with epaulettes and a navy skirt or pants, with a pair of scissors, a second-hand watch, a black and red pen and a stethoscope around the neck. Who is she? She is my nurse. Who is he? He is my nurse. 

But who is a nurse? A nurse is a trained professional through an institution of higher education. A nurse is committed, motivated by altruism, and guided by a code of ethics. My nurse is responsible for continuous professional development, and is regulated by a professional body referred to as the nursing council.

Her fundamental responsibility is to promote health. My nurse prevents illnesses, restores health, and above all alleviates suffering. 

My nurse ensures an environment in which human rights, values, customs and beliefs are acknowledged and respected. She holds in confidence personal information, but also provides accurate information in an understandable manner.

She is a teacher, and she has a role to advocate for her clients for health equity and social justice. And most importantly, she has professional values such as compassion, caring, respect and justice which she conforms to. My nurse is competent, she is constantly engaged in lifelong learning, she values her dignity, well-being and health, and she is an active participant in the promotion of patient safety. 

My nurse is a scholar, her practice of the profession is informed by evidence, and she plays an active role in the creation and application of research aimed at improving health outcomes. My nurse prepares and responds to emergencies, disasters, epidemics and pandemics.

Look at how my nurse handled me during the Covid-19 pandemic. My nurse collaborates with other cadres from multidisciplinary health professional teams to uphold the principle of equity and fairness. 

She collaborates with international partners and organisations to develop and maintain global health policies.

There is more that my nurse is doing and can do, but because I must conclude, I want to acknowledge that my nurse too is human. She is not programmed, she has feelings!

She deserves to be respected, she must be supported, and she must be recognised and celebrated. Without a nurse, I will have no future because who will take care of me when I am aged or when I have declined physical health? She is my nurse, she is my future. Thank you, nurses, it is because of you that we live in a happier and healthier world! Happy International Day of Nurses!

*Tekla Shiindi-Mbidi is a passionate young ethics and midwife educator at IUM. She is also a board member of the Independent Midwives Association of Namibia.

Her views do not purport to represent the opinion of her employer or the midwifery association.