International Nurses Day, held on May 11, represented an opportunity to reflect upon the significant contribution that nurses make in all health care settings, but particularly this year with nurses leading both the continued fight against COVID-19 and the recovery from the pandemic, according to the Australian College of Nursing (ACN).
Celebrating the day, Australian College of Nursing Chief Executive Officer, Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN, said nurses should continue to take the opportunity to advocate for value based health care and a refocus of resources into primary health care to better position the health system to meet future population needs.
This year’s theme is Nurses: A Voice to Lead- A Vision for future healthcare.
“Nurses represent more than half of our health care workforce and are leading Australia and the world through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“The time is now to make sure that every health care discussion and decision includes the nursing voice,” said Ward.
“On this auspicious day it is an opportunity for all nurses to be reminded of why we chose this noble, ethical and respected profession.
“Whether it is in aged care, supporting hotel quarantine, community care of even supporting decisions at the highest levels of government, the nursing voice has been crucial to Australia’s health and wellbeing through this pandemic and without nurses, there is no health care system in Australia.
“It is time that all governments and decision makers give the nursing profession the respect it deserves and not make a decision without us, or consumers, at the table,” said Ward.
Source:
Media Release, May 12
The Australian College of Nursing