Our nurses, our future

10 May 2023

At St John of God Health Care, nurses make up more than 50 per cent of our workforce and work across a range of specialties from emergency, disease prevention, perioperative and oncology to rehabilitation, palliative care and so much more.

For some patients and clients, our nurses are the only health professionals they have contact with when they come to us for care - from initial assessment to caring in the community – our nurses are not only highly valued, they are the cornerstone of our organisation.

Each day this week we have been showcasing the critical roles our amazing St John of God Health Care nurses play, and shining a light on their expertise across a variety of areas. While our featured nurses’ skillsets and roles are varied, one theme in common is their innate sense of what it means to provide person-centred care.

St John of God Bunbury Hospital Nurse Unit Manager, Comprehensive Cancer Centre Helen Barry summed it best in her article, quoting Maya Angelou: “it’s not what you said, or what you did, it was how you made them feel.”

This sentiment rings true in the feedback we receive from our patients and clients who are so grateful for the professional, compassionate care our nurses provide every day and every night.

The international theme for International Nurses Day this year is Our Nurses. Our Future. It describes the International Council of Nurses vision for nursing in the future and what is needed in order to address global health challenges and improve global health for all. It is a call to us to learn from the lessons of the pandemic and translate these into actions for a future which ensures nurses are protected, respected and valued.

To all of our nurses, we are grateful for you today and every day. To our community and caregivers, join us in celebrating and appreciating our nurses, and the important role of nursing across the world.