Life Hospital nurse takes pride in caring for patients

THE Covid-19 pandemic might have been a strenuous and fearful time, but Yasmin Ebrahim, Life Hospital Westville nursing standards manager, said that as nurses, they continued to work with pride.

She said the Covid-19 era was the best opportunity to reveal those who showed selflessness, bravery, heroism, dedication, passion and determination.

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“It took the pandemic to make the world acknowledge and appreciate that the ultimate role of a nurse is indeed a ‘life saviour’.”

Ebrahim, who speaks with pride and passion about her profession, said that no other profession lets you change a catheter, wipe a tear, exchange a joke, brew a cup of tea and hold a stranger’s hand all in a day’s work.

It was a calling

Ebrahim said that for her, nursing is a bigger calling.

“My parents wanted me to study law, and I did study it for a year in 1998, but as I sat in the lecture rooms, I knew this was not what I wanted to do. Later in the year, I took a chance and applied to study at St Aidan’s Hospital.”

To her surprise, Ebrahim was accepted and said it came as a shock to her as she knew people who struggled to get a space in the nursing colleges.

“I believe the love of caring for people started when I was in high school. We had an outreach programme where we visited a home for elderly people and helped them. I also believe the recommendation letter from them, which I included in my application, played a huge role in my getting accepted.

“It was like it was meant to be. I still remember my first day as a nursing student – it was April 1, 1999 – it was an early birthday present as I was born on April 6,” she said with a smile.

In 2001, she qualified as an enrolled nurse. Later, she did a bridging course while working at Mount Edgecombe Hospital. In 2006, she received her certificate as a general nurse.

She has headed up medical and surgical units. “I once headed up a 32-bed surgical unit. I can say surgical is my forte,” she said.

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In 2016, an opportunity arose for her to go and work abroad. “I worked in Saudi Arabia, and when I returned, I worked at Umhlanga Hospital before moving back to Mount Edgecombe.”

She started working at her current position in February this year.

“One of my highlights was being named a Great 100 Nurse in 2018 – this is an accolade that every nurse wishes to receive – I felt honoured to be chosen among many great nurses.”

Going back to 2020

Asked about the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, Ebrahim sighed and said that it was the most stressful time, and as a manager, the staff looked up to her as a support system. “Till today, we can never truly get over the experience and the trauma – how people lost their lives.”

“Despite everything, it taught us to be more compassionate and show more empathy. It also made our work so hard – we had to do our work behind masks and personal protective equipment – it almost took away that sense of healing.”

She added that no number of words can emphasise the gratitude they have for all the nurses. “They were in the forefront and are still continuing to do their work with pride.”

Juggling work and family

Ebrahim is a happily married woman with three children.

“As nurses, we are versatile, adaptive and want to take care of everyone. A nursing career is daunting and challenging but fulfilling at the end of the day.

“I go to sleep with a smile, knowing that I have fulfilled my duties, both at work and at home as a wife, mother and daughter. I feel like we inherited the talent of providing care, and as nurses, we show that every hour of the day.”

She wished all the nurses a Happy International Nurse’s Day.

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