International Nurses Day: Understanding their contributions

Sowmya Raju | NT Bureau

Bengaluru: International Nurses Day is a special day celebrated worldwide every May 12 to honour nurses' contributions to the healthcare sector.

This year, the International Council of Nurses has chosen the theme "Our Nurses Our Future, The Economic Power of Care."

Shanthi Rani R, the Chief Nursing Officer at Aster RV Hospital in Bengaluru, shared her insights with News Trail. She explained that on this day, hospitals, healthcare institutions, nursing associations, and communities usually organise different events to show their appreciation for nurses.

These events include award ceremonies, gatherings to say thank you, workshops to learn new things, and activities to help the community.

Shanthi Rani R also shared inspirations on what it takes to be a successful nurse in Bengaluru's healthcare system and said, “Qualities such as being able to adapt to different situations, showing empathy to understand patients' feelings, being sensitive to other cultures, communicating well, having good technical skills, working quickly when needed, and always wanting to learn more.”

She believes, “As Bengaluru's population grows, nurses will become even more important in healthcare. They will use technology like telemedicine (seeing patients through video calls), remote monitoring (keeping an eye on patients from far away), and using data to make decisions.”

With more people seeking medical help, nurses will also take on leadership roles, specialise in certain areas and work closely with other healthcare workers to help patients.

Nurses often do more than their job requires. Shanthi Rani R shared a personal story about a nurse who got hurt before surgery but kept working until it was done.

She said, “This kind of dedication shows how nurses are willing to help patients, no matter what.” She said that sometimes, being a nurse can be stressful and suggested that nurses have ways to deal with stress such as talking to counsellors, joining support groups, taking part in programs to help them stay healthy and balanced and so on.

For anyone thinking about becoming a nurse in Bengaluru, Shanthi Rani R suggests, “Following your passion, always learning new things, being good at talking to people, understanding how others feel, and being ready to change as healthcare changes.”

Shanthi also added that more than just doing their jobs, nurses also have the responsibility of teaching patients about their health.