Celebrating International Nurses Day 2020
Every year on 12 May, Nottingham University Hospitals joins the globe by celebrating International Nurses Day, in recognition of the contribution that nurses make to society.
This year is significant as we mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, along with 2020 being the Year of the Nurse and Midwife - both of which have been celebrated during the on-going global pandemic.
The pandemic has meant that we can’t celebrate as it usually would, with events, conferences and gatherings.
However, our nurses are doing what they are best at – adapting to a situation. They are marking the day by sharing messages to say what they are proud of and would like to thank the local community for all their support particularly during recent weeks.
We proudly employ over 4,000 nurses who work in the hospital and in the community.
Earlier this year, as part of a nation-wide recruitment drive to help with Covid-19, the Trust recruited nurses, nursing assistants, therapists and support workers.
This has seen nurses come back to the profession after having some time away and some who came out of retirement and return to the front line to help with the pandemic.
It has also seen student nurses who are in their final year of study come and join the hospitals earlier than expected, in the fight against the Coronavirus. It has seen existing nurses, dealing with something they haven’t seen before and nurses refreshing their skills to enable them to move help other departments or teams.
As well as all of this, we are on another journey this year, to achieve international recognition for Nursing excellence through ANCC Magnet® and Pathway to Excellence accreditations.
If successful, this will mean that we will be the first hospital in the UK to achieve the Magnet accreditation. If the Pathway to Excellence accreditation is gained, it means that Nottingham Children’s Hospital will be the first Pathway to Excellence accredited Children’s Hospital in Europe.
Mandie Sunderland, Chief Nurse at Nottingham University Hospitals, said: “This year is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale and this year has been extraordinary and unprecedented.
“I’d like to take the opportunity to thank all of my nursing and midwifery colleagues for everything that they have done and tell them how proud I am to be their Chief Nurse."
Tracy Taylor, Chief Executive of Nottingham University Hospitals and who is also a nurse, added: “I am filled with pride to lead a team that has such fantastic colleagues, including nurses, midwives and ODPs.
“The way they have risen to this challenge is beyond compare and I am so proud of each and every one of them for everything they are doing.
“As a nurse myself, I know how much of a rewarding career it is and I hope they take some time out of their day to reflect on all of their hard work.”
We will also be celebrating ODP day on 14 May. An Operating Department Practitioner (or ODP as they are also known), work with patients of all ages and are involved in each phase of a person’s operation.