International Nurses Day
Dr.Subramanian M.D
“She is a ‘ministering angel’ without any exaggeration in these hospitals, and as her slender form glides quietly along each corridor, every poor fellow’s face softens with gratitude at the sight of her. When all the medical officers have retired for the night and silence and darkness have settled down upon those miles of prostrate sick, she may be observed alone, with a little lamp in her hand, making her solitary rounds.” Thus goes the famed report from The Times on “The Lady with the Lamp”, Florence Nightingale. As we commemorate this pioneering woman’s birthday as International Nurses Day, I take this opportunity to thank the numerous nursing staff who have stood by me and have provided excellent medical care and support for my patients.
The above description attributed to Florence Nightingale holds good for every nursing staff around the globe. With their dedication, care and expertise, they keep a constant vigil on those in need of care putting to hold their personal issues. Leaving their homes and many of them leaving their cities, they work with total dedication With duties stretching as far as even 12 hrs, they never tire. Be it an intensive care unit or a general ward, out-patient care or home care, they treat their duty with equal importance in all the settings and strive to bring relief to those who suffer. The confidence, hope and happiness that lights the face of the patients and their immediate caregivers on seeing a nurse is the pride of the profession. While this is so, there are instances where their effort and presence is either ignored or belittled. It is to the nurses credit that they take both the bouquets and brickbats equally.
As a medical professional, I also appreciate their technical proficiency a fact much less known to the commoner. Their solid back –up means a lot to us the doctors. Knowing that our patients are cared for by these dedicated staff gives us confidence. I want the general public to understand and appreciate their role in the healthcare process. As in any profession, despite the best efforts there are issues that need to be improved and this cannot be seen as a lack of professional proficiency on the part of the nurses. Perfection is an eternal goal and let us all strive towards it.
I finish with the words of two my NICU staff nurses at St.Isabel’s hospital:
Sheeba, “To me, nursing means CARE. Total care”.
Vadhana, ”Nursing means patience, tolerance and dedicated care”.
Their words say it all!!