Celebrating our nurses

Today we celebrate our nurses, their experience, their commitment and their dedication to the wellbeing and care of patients.

12 May 2016

The theme for the 2016 International Nurses Day is ‘A force for change – improving health systems’ resilience’.

A special Mass was held at SJG Mt Lawley Hospital, culminating in a ‘blessing of the hands’ ceremony, a spiritual practice that is celebrated around the world to signify human touch and the healing and comfort our nurses bring.

Infection Prevention and Control Manager, Lucille Ridley, delivered a powerful speech about the important role nurses play in the success and delivery of health care, and their experience as natural connectors of people.

“I have had time to reflect on what it means to be a nurse. This was reinforced when I attended the WA Nursing and Midwifery Awards recently, which celebrates our profession.

“It made me realise that nurses are not just ordinary people doing an ordinary job. We are amazing people who do extraordinary things every day – it has made me conscious of not saying to people ‘I am just a nurse!’

“This day is special to all of us as it gives us a chance to think about what we do each day to provide the best care to those in our hospital, and to others.

“I am very proud to call myself a nurse.”

While caregivers enjoyed an enormous cake to celebrate this important day, Father Brian and the pastoral care team travelled around the hospital to bless the hands of our caregivers.

Please make sure you acknowledge or thank nurses for the wonderful care and comfort they bring to patients.