Usually, doctors are given a lot of credit for the treatment of a patient, but the nurses are often sidelined, which is not justified. The doctor definitely treats the patient, but the nurses are there for patient 24*7, serving them. Therefore, to honor them, International Nurses Day is observed every year on 12th May, the birthdate of Florence Nightingale, known as the founder of modern nursing. She gained fame with her contribution as a manager and trainer of the nurses during the Crimean War.
This year, the day will be observed with the theme, ‘A Voice to Lead - A vision for future healthcare’. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) states that In 2021, we seek to show how nursing will look into the future as well as how the profession will transform the next stage of healthcare.
Understanding Nursing
The World Health Organisation (WHO) explains, “Nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups, and communities, sick or well and in all settings. It includes the promotion of health, the prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled, and dying people. Nurses play a critical role in health care and are often the unsung heroes in health care facilities and emergency response. They are often the first to detect health emergencies and work on the front lines of disease prevention and the delivery of primary health care, including promotion, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.
In many countries, nurses makeup half of all health care professionals and have a vital role in how health actions are organized and applied, both at the front-line and managerial levels.”
Nurses And COVID-19
Another challenge that the world is facing is the shortage of nurses. According to the ICN, one out of six of the world’s nurses are expected to retire in the next 10 years, meaning that 4.7 million new nurses will have to be educated. Due to existing nursing shortages, the aging of the nursing workforce, and the growing COVID-19 effect, ICN estimates up to 13 million nurses could be needed to fill the global shortages and replace nurses who leave in the next few years.
This year too, while the pandemic continues to throw challenges at the healthcare system, along with doctors and other health care workers, nurses have contributed a lot and have basically been the backbone of the system. They may have been affected, exhausted, and mentally drained, but they have not given up. They are still standing firm to serve the people of their nation, regardless of the risk, they are putting themselves into every day.
Without nurses, the battle with COVID-19 will be hard to win. Surprisingly, the nurses have come together and are not just sticking to their assigned jobs. They are stepping ahead and cheering up the patients by singing and dancing, to lighten up the mood in hospitals amidst these gloomy times.
Therefore, let us take some time to salute these frontlines, who despite their salaries not being increased, as some media reports have pointed out, are working overtime, putting themselves at risk, believing it to owe it to their profession, with the sole reason of saving the lives of the people of their country. Uncaring about their physical and mental health, are working day and night to win the battle against COVID-19. So, let us pray for their wellbeing and hope that the situations normalize soon.
