MORE than 9 000 nurses were celebrated by Life Healthcare on International Nurses’ Day on Tuesday, 12 May.
The theme chosen this year by the group was ‘Compassion In Nursing’, which aligns with the company’s core values of performance, pride and passion for people.
André Meyer, CEO of Life Healthcare, said: “Nurses are the heart of healthcare and the core of the Life Healthcare Group. We offer world class medical facilities and equipment, and our doctors and specialists provide the medical expertise necessary to treat patients and perform complex procedures. However, it is our nurses who routinely dispense the comfort, compassion, and care that makes all the difference to our patients’ recovery.”
Life Healthcare paid tribute to 100 nurses who were chosen by their peers for epitomising quality and compassion in their daily work.
Dr Sharon Vasuthevan, group nursing executive at Life Healthcare, said nursing is a profession of compassion and caring, also linked to a scientific background. She said it is a dedicated service to the sick during their time of need.
“Compassion is central to nursing care and has become underutilised due to various developments in technology, administration and management. The one thing that patients should be able to rely on when they are in our care is the compassionate connectedness that will bridge the clinical, operational, cultural and behavioural aspects of the patient experience. International Nurses’ Day serves to remind us as nurses to re-establish our support for each other in the clinical area,” added Vasuthevan.
She concluded: “International Nurses’ Day gives me great pleasure in paying tribute to our top-class nursing team, which strives for excellence.”
Life Occupational Health in Pinetown opened the event with the nurses’ reciting of the Nurses’ Pledge and singing of inspirational songs. This was followed by a presentation about the value of and the vital contribution which nurses make to the profession. The celebrations included the awarding of the Great 100 Nurses prize and lots of lucky draw prizes. The nurses were encouraged to share their own personal philosophies in an interactive session.
Life Westville Hospital celebrated International Nurses’ Day with breakfast served to the night staff coming off duty, reading of the Nurses’ Pledge in the hospital’s main reception and ending with a special lunch for all nurses on duty.
