A voice to lead in healthcare: Invest in nursing to build a resilient workforce

International Nurses Day (IND) is celebrated for decades to honour and highlight the untiring, vital life-saving contributions of nurses all over the world. The theme for 2022 is “A Voice To Lead – Invest In Nursing and Respect Rights To Secure Global Health”. 

The theme for IND 2022 demonstrates the need to invest in nursing, build a resilient, highly qualified nursing workforce and protect nurses’ rights in order to transform health systems to meet the needs of individuals and communities now and into the future.

“Exhibiting integrity in nursing is important. Nursing values are fundamental in the practice of nursing to ensure ethical and quality work is performed in the care and respect of patients. Integrity in nursing is imperative to safeguard professional implementation and uphold nurses' responsibilities to their patients and employer. 

Nurses play an essential role in society today by being advocates for health promotion and education. Nursing knowledge and skills are required to sustain the quality of care, injury prevention and patient safety. A healthy work environment fosters an encouraging climate to provide patients with excellent nursing care and services,” said Matron Nazahiah binti Mat Daud, Director of Nursing, Sri Kota Specialist Medical Centre.   

The Covid-19 pandemic is an absolute profile of the crucial roles and responsibilities nurses have to assume and continue to perform in team-based care in the healthcare system. 

Matron Nazahiah added that nurturing a positive nurse-physician relationship is central as it will make a significant difference, and contribute to improved quality care delivered to patients. Both professions play a key role in patient care and treatment. Teamwork, unified cooperation and respectful communication will provide good outcomes and patient satisfaction.

The founder of modern nursing - Florence Nightingale’s environment theory defined nursing as ‘the act of utilizing the patient’s environment to assist them in their recovery. 

Breaking the tradition

In a female-dominated profession, more men are joining their ranks now than in previous decades. The high demand for nurses provides endless options in nursing with career stability and job growth projected to continue at 9% between 2020 and 2030.   Men enter the profession just as women do - to care for people. Male nurses also help bring diversity to the profession. Male nurses stand out, as there are so few in the industry and people get to know you better.

“The thought of becoming a nurse was always close to my heart after caring for my late grandmother during her ailment. By nature, I have always enjoyed talking and engaging with people with compassion and care.  

In my capacity as a cardiac scrub nurse in the cardiology unit for angiogram and angioplasty,  I support and assist the Consultant Cardiologist in treating patients with heart attacks, angina and heart failure. I also provide emotional support to the patient, and family members who naturally will be anxious regarding the procedure and treatment, as well as assist at the Intensive Care Unit for hemodynamically unstable patients, respiratory supported patients, and  patients having undergone major operations

Predictably, being a male staff nurse in a predominantly female dominated career sparks easy conversation with patients.  The chat becomes interesting, and favourably paves the way to build good patient engagement and trust. The friendly environment makes the patient feel comfortable in the quality care I provide,” said Mohammad Hilmi Afandi Bin Mizan, a registered staff nurse at Sri Kota Specialist Medical Centre.  

Afandi passionately shared that nurses can change the world through their acts of kindness and compassion.  “Knowing that you cared sincerely with concern for each individual patient served is a great sense of satisfaction and feeling at the end of a long tiring day,” he concludes warmly. 

Due to the significant physical and mental strain from Covid-19 and increased rates of global burnout worldwide, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) estimated that the nursing workforce alone could hit a shortfall of 13 million by 2030. The past two years have imposed new challenges on the well-being of nurses. 

Nurses well- being and health can be affected by the demands of their workplace, and subsequently stresses will affect their work and patient care. It is crucial for policymakers, employers, and professional associations to address the welfare and health equity of the nursing workforce. 

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) works to ensure quality holistic nursing care, encompassing mental and physical health and spiritual, cultural and social wellbeing. Mental health is a cornerstone of health and wellbeing for individuals, communities and societies and nurses play a crucial role in the promotion and maintenance of mental health and wellbeing.

This content is provided by Sri Kota Specialist Medical Centre.

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