International Nurses Day #VoiceToLead

Nursing is an art: and if it is to be made an art, it requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation as any painter’s or sculptor’s work.

– Florence Nightingale

It comes as no surprise that nurses are the backbones of healthcare systems all around the world. It’s a job that not everyone can do — and it certainly requires a lot of heart, passion, and dedication to be a good nurse.

This International Nurses Day, let’s take the time to recognise the selfless contributions of our nurses, and to commend their resilience in staying strong in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is International Nurses Day?

International Nurses day is celebrated on May 12 every year — the day that the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale, was born. The day of celebration was established back in 1974 by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) to recognise and appreciate the dedication of our nurses, as well as to increase awareness of the importance of nurses in healthcare.

The theme for this year’s International Nurses Day is Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Invest in Nursing and respect rights to secure global health — which focuses on the importance of investment in nursing as well as respecting nurses’ rights to safety, fair compensation and workload, amongst other areas.

Importance of International Nurses Day

International Nurses Day encourages conversations around the improvements for the welfare of our nurses — the very people we cannot live without.

Nurses are always in high demand and healthcare systems all around the world will always need nurses. The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly showed the indispensable role that nurses play and has also shined a spotlight on the challenges that nurses face around the globe. With the increasing nurse shortage around the globe, it is even more important to invest in the nursing profession in order to retain and attract more people to join the profession. Investments can come in the form of an increase in efforts to ensure gender equity at the workplace, better remuneration, and more involvement of nurses in the decision-making process.

Ways we can show appreciation to nurses

Many nurses share that feeling appreciated is what gives them the motivation and drive to continue doing the work that they do. Sometimes, a simple thank you really does go a long way.

Here are some other simple ways we can show appreciation and support for our nurses:

• Engage in conversations with the community, governments, and healthcare institutions on improving the welfare of nurses
• Show our nurses understanding and patience – they are humans just like you and I
• Send letters of appreciation (a handwritten one will make it extra personal!)
• Send videos of gratitude
• Volunteer in a hospital or care facility
• Surprise them with useful gifts
  • Comfortable work shoes
  • Skincare products
  • Comfortable bedsheets
  • Tea/Coffee sets
  • Healthy snacks for long shifts

Resources for nurses in Singapore

It’s important to highlight the efforts of our nurses and to always question what else we can do to help improve the welfare of our healthcare workers in Singapore.

If you are a nurse, it is extremely crucial to look after your own physical and mental health. Here are some resources to get you started.

Burnout in Healthcare Workers: What, Why, and How To Deal With It

How to Prevent Back Pain for Nurses and Healthcare Workers

Mental Health Resources for Healthcare Workers in Singapore

Discounts and Benefits for Healthcare Workers in Singapore

Best Gyms and Fitness Studios Near Hospitals

Celebrating our incredible nurses at Homage

Here at Homage, we have the honour of working with extremely dedicated, passionate, and hardworking nurses from all walks of life. Thank you to all our Care Pros here at Homage — we are deeply appreciative of your hard work and we certainly won’t be where we are today if not for all of you.

From all of us at Homage, Happy International Nurses Day to all nurses out there!

If you are looking for a meaningful, flexible, and well-paying career, join us as a Care Pro today!