The Minister for Health Mitcy Larue has commended the all-important role of nurses in shaping and strengthening our health system.
In her message on the occasion of Nurses’ Day today, Minister Larue says nurses make a significant contribution to developing and maintaining resilience at all levels of our health system, echoing the theme for this year’s Nurses’ Day which is ‘Nurses a force for change: improving health systems’ resilience’.
The full text of Minister Larue’s message reads:
“Nurses remain a vital force for the changes that our health system needs. Nurses contribute to service development, supervise and develop other members of the team, work with and advocate for patients, their care-givers and communities, share best practices in the face of opportunity and challenge, and collect data which inform the development of evidence.
“In general, nurses make a significant contribution to developing and maintaining resilience at all levels of our health system.
“The nursing workforce of many countries including Seychelles has a long history of responding to the changing needs of society. The Ministry of Health acknowledges the substantive progress in the health of our nation and the attainment of the recent millennium development goals through nursing interventions.
“There is much evidence of nurses’ responsiveness and the important role nurses play in making a significant difference in the efficiency and effectiveness of health systems.
“The need for strong and resilient health systems, able to respond to rapid change, is at the heart of the ministry’s strategy to bring health services closer to people and to improve the quality of health care. This places new expectations on the nursing workforce, requiring purposeful actions and a leadership role.
“I am aware of the many challenges that nurses face every day as they go through the different routines. I am also aware of how nurses have to think on their feet as they get through difficult shifts and other duties.
“In the busy life of a practicing nurse, therefore, thinking about how one can assume new roles and supporting and strengthening the health system one works in, is not a common activity.
“Resilience is a vital attribute for nurses. The increased workloads, changes in nursing education and the ageing of the nursing workforce can all contribute to the development of levels of nursing stress which can impact on the quality of care and patient safety.
“It is important that nurses build up their competence and self-efficacy and clinical and coping skills. It is also important that nurses engage in policy development that will help improve nurses’ work and nurses’ place in the care environment.
“As nurses continue to play their all-important role in shaping and strengthening our health system, I express renewed support and wish all nurses a Happy Nurses’ Day.”
Source : Seychelles NATION