To all the amazing nurses and midwives of NSW, I just wanted to take some time to reconnect with you all. It’s been a little while since I last spoke to you.
We started 2020 with a focus on celebrating the amazing contributions that you all make as nurses and midwives. And who would’ve thought then that we’d be seeing what’s occurring now. They certainly are extraordinary times, and you have rallied in an extra-ordinary way.
As you know every year in May we take the opportunity to celebrate International Nurses Day and International Day of the Midwife. Things are going to look a little different this year, but it’s still important for us to actually acknowledge those days and take time to celebrate. What I thought I’d do in the meantime is just share some of the work that we’ve done to help us to celebrate the amazing work that you do. I think it’s really important during times like this that we continue to take time to acknowledge our contribution. Please take the time to have a look. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, and thank you for the fabulous work that you’re doing at the moment and please take care.
I’m right here for you, okay? Making sure you’re safe.
I am proud to be a nurse because I think it’s a job not many people can do, and I think nurses are special people.
Some of the patients I’ve looked after they’ll be with me forever.
I like to treat my patients like I’d like my family to be treated, if they were in that same situation.
Just relax, okay?
I’m proud to be a nurse because it’s a really important thing to make sure that people are safe.
If I can make a little bit of a smile and take a little bit of worry away from them, that’s all I want.
It’s inspiring.
I like working with people. I like helping people. I like problems to solve.
Now, we’re going to stand up.
There’s nothing in the world like being a midwife. The moment you kind of see a new baby come into the world, mum and dad, still to this day with give me tears and shivers.
I do have the best job in the world.
You need to step up in situations when there is a health crisis, or a pandemic, and we haven’t seen one in our lifetime like this. I think this is what we do. This is what we live for, and I am worried about my family but the fact is, is that, if we didn’t do what we do, there would be nobody else to do it.
When people give you that thank you it makes it worthwhile.
I had someone hug me on the street.
Nurses, I suppose, they’re almost the molecular glue that kind of gets that relationship happening between the patient and the nurse, and equally keeps the patient safe.
To all our amazing nurses and midwives, thank you for your commitment and your capacity to give, even in times of great need.
April 2020.