Nurses arriving for work at Northern Hospital last Tuesday were greeted by guard of honour to mark International Nurses Day.
The day, which is held annually on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth, recognises the contribution of nurses in caring for the community.
Northern Health’s chief nursing and midwifery officer, Debra Bourne said this year’s International Nurses Day was more important than ever given the COVID-19 pandemic.
The World Health Organisation also declared 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife.
“I am very proud of our nurses. This pandemic has demonstrated that nurses have the ability to step up, step into areas they don’t usually work in and develop new models of care, while keeping the humanity of patient care,” Ms Bourne said.
“Many of our nurses are undertaking additional training and education to provide the best possible care for our patients.”
Northern Health staff at the Bundoora, Broadmeadows and Craigieburn sites also took time to honour their nursing colleagues by presenting gifts and organising live music.
Among the nurses recognised last week was emergency department and neonatal unit nurse Stephanie Grey, who was delivered by Ms Bourne 24 years ago.
Ms Grey started working at Northern Hospital in 2016 and was noticed by Ms Bourne during graduate orientation.
“It was an incredibly special moment to see her there,” Ms Bourne said.
