11 May 2009

Celebrating our nurses 

The hard work and dedication of nurses at St George and Sutherland Hospitals and the Garrawarra Centre is being honoured on International Nurses Day tomorrow.

International Nurses Day is held on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth and is celebrated around the world on 12 May each year.  

This years’ theme: Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Care Innovations, relates to delivering quality health care and working in a profession that cares for people of all ages and from all walks of life.

General Manager Central Hospital Network Cath Whitehurst, who started her career in health as a nurse, said nursing was one of the most interesting, rewarding and challenging career paths to follow.

“Nursing is a profession that provides numerous opportunities to move along different career paths such as clinical care, education or management,” Ms Whitehurst said.

“International Nurses Day highlights the important work that nurses do in providing quality, effective and compassionate nursing care to patients and is an opportunity for nurses to come together and celebrate their chosen profession.

“There are more than1,860 nursing full-time equivalents employed at St George and Sutherland Hospitals, the Garrawarra Centre and in the community, which represents in excess of 52 per cent of the total workforce in the Central Hospital Network,” she said.

Celebrations will include a barbeque lunch at St George and Sutherland Hospitals, an afternoon tea at Garrawarra Centre, presentation of Excellence in Nursing Practice Awards and an invitation to nursing staff to apply for Professional Development Scholarships.

“The work nurses undertake is challenging and demanding but very rewarding and they are to be commended for their wonderful contribution in providing quality patient care,” Ms Whitehurst said.
 

Media Enquiries: Maxine Brennan 9113 2601, 0413 028 776