Local nurses gathered at the Young District Hospital to celebrate International Nurses Day with a delicious cake as well as using the opportunity to catch up, talk business and share recent achievements. 

The theme for International Nurses Day 2018 was ‘Nurses a Voice to Lead – Health is a Human Right.”

According to Murrumbidgee Local Health District Nursing and Midwifery executive director Karen Cairney the meaning behind the theme is that no matter the location, no matter the setting, healthcare should be accessible to all.

“This is a powerful message that nurses need to lead the way in supporting a person-centred approach to care,” Ms Cairney said.

International Nurses Day is held annually on May 12 and is an opportunity to celebrate those in the profession and the commitment of nurses to the provision of safe, quality, equitable and evidenced based care.

“More than any other health profession, nurses spend the most time with patients and their families and have firsthand knowledge of the stories that have an impact on health and wellbeing of patients,” Ms Cairney said.

“Every nurse has a story and every story has the potential to improve the health system and enable individuals and communities to achieve their highest attainable standard of health.

“From these insights comes the power for change.”

Mr Cairney encouraged local nurses to think about their achievements over the past year and to set not only individual goals but goals as a team on how as a group they can improve health for individuals and engage in professional growth and development.

The nurses at Young District Hospital and all across the Murrumbidgee Local Health District came together over Friday and Saturday and were celebrated by hospital staff, doctors as well as patients both past and present who wanted to show their appreciation for the hard working and dedicated men and women.