International Nurses' Day

Nunkuwarrin Yunti celebrate International Nurses' Day

Warning - the following story has a reference to child removal, which may be distressing for some readers.

Some of the Nunkuwarrin Yunti team in Adelaide got together to celebrate International Nurses’ Day, as part of the Australian College of Nursing National Breakfast in May.

Glenda Woodall, Nurse Supervisor reflects on what nursing means for her and how her team has adapted during Covid.

Florence Nightingale

Glenda explains the origins of International Nurses Day: "International Nurses Day began in the 1960s. It’s celebrated every year on 12 May, the anniversary of the birth of pioneering English nurse, Florence Nightingale.”

She says the day is now celebrated all around the world. International Nurses’ Day is “a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge and show appreciation for my great team of nurses. The breakfast was fantastic for team bonding - sharing a meal and having a few laughs; also having Lilly attend when she is on maternity leave so that she still feels part of the team."

Glenda acknowledges that nursing is a fantastic career, but there are challenges.

"While working as a Nurse Home Visitor is very rewarding and we have had some great success stories, it can also be a very difficult space to work in with such complex families. The team is always deeply affected when there are sad cases, such as child removal."

She is proud that her two daughters are following in her footsteps; one is a nurse and the other is almost finished her midwifery studies.
 
Nurses doing a good job during Covid

Glenda says this year was significant, as the nurses on her team have many family and friends in England, a country hit hard by Covid.

“With Covid, that’s caused a lot of worry and stress hearing about what our families and friends are going through in England. It’s been a very difficult year and there’s been a huge amount of acknowledgment of nurses overseas and the work they do through Covid, but not as much here. Covid hasn’t impacted us in such as way as it has in the UK.

"Because of what we’ve seen happen back in England, we’re aware of the risks. We also understand the consequences of being complacent. So International Nurses’ Day recognises how stressful it’s been and what a good job all the nurses do.”

Grabbing opportunities

Glenda says one of the nurses in her team took the opportunity to do an immunisation course this year. Glenda says it was a big commitment, as it’s normally 20 weeks to do, but her team member really got out of her comfort zone.

“She had never done immunisations before, but she was willing to do that. She just cracked on with it and got it done so she could be involved with the flu vaccinations when our clients weren’t feeling safe to come into a clinic environment because of Covid.”

Glenda and her team were able to go to all the clients’ houses and do the vaccinations on their doorsteps. “You have to work in a different way during Covid and we showed we can adapt and make it work.”

If anything you have read in this story has caused you distress and you need someone to talk to, please call one of these helplines:
Lifeline - 13 11 14
Beyond Blue - 1300 23 4636
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