NWU celebrates International Nurses Day with silent tribute
The North-West University’s (NWU) school of nursing celebrated International Nurses Day on Wednesday, 12 May, with a silent tribute to the nurses of South Africa.
“We usually host an event for staff and students to celebrate our profession,” said Dr Elsabe Bornman, deputy director of the school of nursing at the NWU. Due to Covid-19-related regulations, this was not possible this year.
“This year we decided to pay tribute to nurses in South Africa who have lost their lives or are facing hardships due to Covid-19,” Bornman said. Staff at the school of nursing convened in Lover’s Lane with posters dedicated to International Nurses Day.
International Nurses Day is celebrated annually on 12 May. This year’s theme of the day was “Nurses: a voice to lead – a vision for future healthcare”. “This exemplifies how nursing forms an integral part of healthcare around the globe,” said Adele Fourie, marketing and clinical standards specialist of Life Healthcare.
The NWU contributed to the celebration by posting the following message on their Instagram page: “We salute the courage and commitment of our nurses and the many roles they play to keep our communities safe and healthy.”
“International Nurses Day provides the opportunity to recognise the vital contributions made by nurses, as well as the physical and emotional sacrifices made during these unprecedented times,” Fourie said. “Nurses care for persons across all nationalities, all income groups, with different health needs – they do so selflessly and without prejudice,” she said. “Nursing professionals across the globe serve their communities through dedication, passion and a commitment to the science of nursing,” Fourie continued.
Machél van der Westhuizen (23), a qualified nurse and former nursing student at the NWU, said that it is an honour to be celebrated and appreciated. “Nurses live to help their patients. When helping a patient, everything else seems to be forgotten. We work extremely hard and care so much, it’s nice to be seen,” Van der Westhuizen said.
Lelanie Keyser, a qualified nurse and former nursing student at the NWU, said: “International Nurses Day is a day dedicated to celebrating the endless contributions made by nurses to society. Nursing requires an immeasurable amount of knowledge, concentration and faith. We are instruments, and without instruments, many tasks would be impossible,” she said.
