Nurses Celebrated for Sacrifice, Service on International Nurses Day

12 May 2025

By Charity Chikara

As the world commemorates International Nurses Day today, the spotlight falls on the dedication and compassion of nurses heroes who form the heart of healthcare systems across the globe. Observed each year on May 12, the day marks the birthday of Florence Nightingale and honours the unwavering service of nurses in every community.

This year’s theme, “Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies,” underscores the importance of investing in the well-being and professional growth of nurses as a cornerstone of resilient healthcare.

Tamara Tshuma, a registered psychiatric nurse currently working under Ireland’s Health Services Executive, reflected on the emotional depth and human connection central to the nursing profession.

“We are nurses—we see you when you are born, and we see you when you die. This profession is more than just bandages and antibiotics; it’s skipping lunch to hold the hand of a dying patient when their family can’t be there,” Tshuma said.

“It’s about forming bonds so strong that patients and their families send Christmas cards and greet us warmly in the streets. To aspiring nurses, I say pursue your dreams with passion and purpose. This profession can even open international doors for you.”

Tshuma, who began her career in 2018 under Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Care, says she hopes to return home one day to serve her country with the knowledge and experience gained abroad.

David ‘Nqama’ Moyo, a nurse and sports presenter at Skyz Metro FM, also spoke about the sacrifice embedded in the profession.

“Let us also remember that as nurses we are a very, very essential service because every endemic, every pandemic, we face it head on,” he said.

“While other people are on lockdown because of COVID or Ebola, we have to be at work. We are at high risk, and so are our families, but there is nothing we can do. We have to soldier on and ensure we are fighting pestilences while the general populace relies on us.”

Globally, nurses deliver an estimated 90% of patient care, account for 70% of healthcare services, and make up one in every five healthcare workers, figures that highlight their indispensable role.

As the world honours nurses today, the message is clear: behind every patient’s recovery is a nurse’s commitment, courage, and care.