The One Bermuda Alliance would like to commend and congratulate all of the nurses in Bermuda as part of International Nurses Month. Over the past year, nurses have been recognized as a pillar of our healthcare system, and we could not do it without them. The global theme for nurses month this year is “A voice to lead” and that voice has been heard loud and clear throughout the past year.
“As a nurse myself, I recognize the value that nurses bring to our healthcare system, be they at the hospital, doctors offices, private duty nursing, home care agencies, nursing homes, government clinics, in the schools, in insurance companies or other administrative areas. The role and purpose of nurses has changed dramatically since the first official recognition of nurses in 1965, and will continue to expand as the needs of our healthcare system grow. Nurses are everywhere in our community and are taking on leadership roles to ensure high quality care of patients whilst they are at home and abroad.
But I am not only a nurse, but the child of a nurse, and as such I also recognize the sacrifice that our families go through whilst we care for our community. The late night shifts, weekends at the workplace, the public holidays missed and now with COVID the worry for our loved one’s working on the front lines of this pandemic. I want to thank and offer recognition to those who support our nurses as when we support our nurses, they are able to offer the best care possible for patients” stated Catherine A Kempe, RN Party Chair.
The OBA urges Bermudians to look at a career in healthcare as it is a growing industry at home and abroad. With the aging of our population, and the high numbers of work permit holders in our current healthcare system, there is plenty of opportunity for Bermudians to enter the profession. It is never to late to re-enter the school system to work in healthcare and we encourage Bermudians to look at the healthcare programmes offered locally at the Bermuda College.
The OBA thanks our nurses for their ongoing contribution to the health of our country.