Our nurses are 'the wind beneath our wings'

Internationl Nurses Day - 12 May 2011

"Being a nurse means much more than dressing wounds, taking blood for tests or giving medication to the sick. It is about providing care, comfort and support to patients when they are at their most vulnerable and treating them as you would wish to be treated. Being a nurse means giving of yourself to make a difficult time a little easier for those in your care."

This is the view of Betty Shongwana*, a nurse who has been caring for patients for over 30 years. This International Nurses Day, 12 May 2011, the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) salutes our nation's nurses who, like Betty, dedicate their lives to helping others in times of need.

International Nurses Day is held annually to recognise the important role that nurses play in our society. They spend their lives helping the sick and injured, so that the wheels of the world can continue to turn.

Working with passion
Nursing is a very demanding profession and not everyone has the true passion for helping others that nursing requires. Betty says that being a nurse is all she has ever wanted to do, but points out that there are times when it can be very hard.

"As a nurse, your life is very different to that of people working in other professions. Shifts can be very long and I often have to work at night and over the weekends. When my children were growing up this was particularly hard as I was often not able to spend as much time with them as I wanted to."

"Sometimes the job itself is very challenging. There can be patients who are angry that they are sick or injured, or family members who are upset, and treat you badly because of this. But it is important to remember that dealing with a health issue can be difficult for patients and their families, and part of the job is to continue being caring and supportive, even when it is not appreciated."

Betty says that the hardest part of being a nurse is seeing patients suffer. "It is especially difficult to watch a child in pain or see an elderly person who is confused and frightened. And there is nothing that can prepare you for what it feels like to lose a patient."

Making a real difference - every day
"As challenging as it can be, nursing is also an incredibly rewarding profession and it gives me great joy every time that I am able to help someone who is ill or injured. That is the best part - seeing a child smile as you enter their ward or the look of gratitude on a patient's face when you comfort them and tell them that everything is going to be alright."

Nurses like Betty who make a difference in the lives of others every day will tell you that there is no better job in the world. Nursing is a highly skilled profession that is deeply fulfilling, and the shortage of nurses in South Africa means that they are in great demand. Betty strongly encourages every young person who has a longing to make a difference in people's lives to consider nursing as a profession and says that it was "without a doubt" the best decision she ever made.

This year the theme for International Nurses Day is "Closing the gap: Increasing access and equity". This involves overcoming some of the barriers that may prevent nurses from giving patients the kind of care that they really need.

Thanking you
GEMS takes this opportunity to thank the nurses of South Africa for their commitment to the people of our nation - you truly are the wind beneath our wings.

*The nurse's name has been changed in order to protect her identity.

If you would like to know how GEMS can assist you to obtain more information about any of your healthcare needs, you can contact the GEMS call centre on 0860 00 4367 or send a SMS to 083 450 4367. GEMS will assist you in every way possible to ensure your family's health and well-being.

Sources
1. International Council of Nurses, www.icn.ch
2. South African Government Information, www.info.gov.za
3. The World Health Organisation, www.who.int