On 12 May every year, the global nursing profession celebrates International Nurses’ Day. The theme for this year, announced by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) was “Our nurses, our future. Empowered nurses save lives”.

The attendees at this event were nurses employed at the Potchefstroom Hospital led by the executive management, including the acting CEO, Dr Michael Shakung, Matron Mziwakhe, Matron Aslett and the director for Nursing Education and Training, Evelyn Nkhumane.

Personnel of the School of Nursing in attendance were led by the deputy director, Prof. Khumo Shopo. Dr Michael Shakung welcomed the guests at the event, acknowledging that nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system. His exact words were: “There is no hospital without nurses.” Similar sentiments were shared by Sr Henda Aslett, the acting nursing service manager. She expressed appreciation for the nurses’ dedication and hard work in the hospital.

According to the ICN president, true empowerment means eliminating the barriers that prevent nurses from using their knowledge and full set of skills and to rather create pathways for nurses’ voices to shape the future of care. It was therefore no surprise when emphasis from speakers on the day fell on the empowerment of nurses so that they are able to save lives. Nurse leaders were urged to ensure that nurses have sufficient resources, including functional equipment to enable them to perform their duties effectively.

The highlight of the day was when certificates of recognition were given to nurses at the event, an initiative by the School of Nursing. The best nurses from all categories (Enrolled Nurse Auxiliary, Enrolled Nurse, Professional Nurse), including Best Operational Manager, were selected by the undergraduate and postgraduate diploma students. Celebrating International Nurses’ Day with the Potchefstroom Hospital strengthens the already established partnership between the university and the hospital. This collaboration includes, among other initiatives, placement of students from the Faculty of Health Sciences for work-integrated learning, research and community engagement projects.

NWU and Potchefstroom Hospital staff during the celebration of International Nurses’ Day.