This week, we celebrated the International Day of the Nurse on May 12th. We hope that you found a moment to reflect and be thankful for our amazing nurses all across the globe, just as we did at ProMedical. After all, 2020 is the Year of the Nurse – so our gratitude and admiration doesn’t need to be confined to a single day! 

May 12th also marked the birthday of one of the early pioneers of nursing, Florence Nightingale. It goes without saying that the nursing landscape has changed in a number of significant ways in the past 200 years, since Florence’s time. However, some things have remained the same: just as Florence battled to provide the best standard of care for her patients during the Crimean War, so too do our nurses today. The battleground may have shifted, but our nursing heroes continue to do us proud. 

With this in mind, we reached out to some of our favourite nurses to provide an insight into a role that is both demanding and intensely rewarding. Through varied careers and personal backgrounds, their love of the job was something that always shined through: 

Ann, student Nurse, @loggyann

“As a third-year student nurse about to qualify in a couple of weeks, this is a daunting transition at the best of times – nevermind in the middle of a pandemic! But I must say I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else right now. Especially after seeing all of the amazing staff pull together and do their best for all of the patients, going out of their way to facilitate communication with loved ones, and going above and beyond their line of duty. Nursing is a unique and humbling profession where you can really make a difference to people’s lives. It has been the most challenging yet rewarding experience of my life so far, and I cannot wait to see what my career as a Nurse has in store for me.” 

Kenny, Registered Nurse @kenny_olapade

“Be passionate about your job and do it with a compassionate heart. That’s my favourite quote as a nurse: it motivates me and keeps my passion for nursing alive.” 

Michaela, Cosmetic Nurse, @essexcosmetics  

“I am so proud to be a nurse. The last five years of my nursing career have taught me so much, and I am forever grateful. The most important thing I’ve learnt is that to love and be kind is one of life’s greatest gifts; you just never know what someone else is enduring daily. Life is so precious and in the blink of an eye your whole world can flip upside down, so make the most of it while you can and always do your best. A good heart always wins.” 

Ruth, Registered Children’s Nurse and Reflexologist, @reflexologywithruth

“My favourite part of the job is making a difference to children and their families. My mum was a neonatal Sister when I was growing up and it was really the only career I ever seriously considered.”