International Nurses Day takes place annually on 12 May – the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. This year’s theme is A Voice to Lead – recognising the need to protect, support and invest in the nursing profession to strengthen health systems around the world.
This year, we spoke to Fiona Riddiford (RN, Dandenong ICU), Liz Mackie (Nurse Manager, South 2, Kingston Centre) and Praveenkumar Pezhatholil (T5 Nurse Manager, Casey) about why they chose nursing, the experiences they’ve had and their own dreams for the future of nursing.
Why did you choose a career in Nursing?
Fiona Riddiford
I worked in a nursing home and became a division 2 nurse. This was as far as my studies were going to take me at that time as l had a young son l was bringing him up on my own with support from my beautiful family. My dad approached me one afternoon and said why don’t you further your studies and become a Division 1 nurse. I am not sure if it was the way he said it to me or the caring look he gave me; he also said we will help you, help look after Daniel whilst you are studying. I looked at him and did not have to think it over, l said Dad l am doing this for you and for you only. And that was it. I am where l am because of my dad. So because my dad did this for me l then wrote three children’s books on behalf of my Dad – Old Man Ridd & his Magpie.
I began studying nursing at 29 and l have never looked back, l just love it and as l mentioned it before, l cannot thank my parents enough, especially my dad for where l am today, also my sister as she worked in the Intensive Care Unit at Dandenong and that is where l went and have stayed in ICU for over 20 years and this is where l will retire from. I love the nursing, staff and patients – we are one big family here.
I love nursing, l love being a nurse on the floor, l love the interactions, the attending to their needs, listening to them talk, holding their hand, l love being with my patient/s and their families. It’s such a rewarding job.
Liz Mackie
I have always love helping people from a very young age. I chose nursing, as I felt I would be able to help people from all walks of life and be able to truly connect with others in a meaningful way.
Praveenkumar Pezhatholil
I was not a person that grew up always wanting to be nurse. I did my studies to become a computer engineer. At some point in my life, reading the life story of Mother Teresa and her famous quote: “Love cannot remain by itself – it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action, and that action is service” made me think to change my profession and I realised that my profession is nursing. In fact, how beautiful and satisfying to be the reason for someone’s smile by helping them in their most vulnerable, and unexpected moments.
What’s a memorable experience you’ve had nursing at Monash Health?
Fiona Riddiford
A memorable experience whilst working at Monash Health is this year myself, Carolyn Poyser and Ruth Lia, were invited to Government House for the Flag Raising Ceremony on Australia Day to be actively involved with the ceremony by our Governor of Victoria. We were the only nurses & health care professionals chosen to attend this ceremony from Victoria.
Daniel Andrews mentioned us in his speech, mentioned where we worked and what health network we came from. He thanked the three of us personally for our exceptional work we have done during the COVID Pandemic and was very proud of how we not only looked after our patients but our staff’s well-being.
This was such a privilege to not only be invited, when we arrived, we were escorted to the reserved section and sat amongst the Governor, Brett Sutton and many officials. (Representing Monash Health and especially Dandenong Intensive Care Unit was one of the biggest highlights l can say l have had with my nursing).
Liz Mackie
I think the most meaningful experiences I have had is when I hear the thank you from patients and families we have been able to help. Recently we had a patient die on the ward, and just before she died, I went in to chat to her son. The son started opening up to me about her life and the special women she had been. He had tears rolling down his cheeks, and said to me, thank you so much for just listening, it means the world to me that someone would care so much about my precious Mother. It was just so beautiful.
Praveenkumar Pezhatholil
In the course of my nursing career, I have witnessed and became a part of many memorable moments. An incident that I always remember is when I was working at Dandenong Hospital. An elderly patient with dementia was admitted to the hospital and subsequently palliated. Patient had mistaken me as her son “Ryan” and held my hand while she took her last breath. I guess, that mother was happy as she would have thought her son was beside her bed at the end of her life.
What are your hopes for the future of nursing, both here and around the world?
Fiona Riddiford
The United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals call on all countries to end poverty, inequality and address climate change by 2030. They are inclusive actions because while they have a global vision, we can implement them locally. They are particularly relevant for nursing because the common thread linking all of them is health.
I have been involved in goal number 3 at work through wellbeing projects including an upcoming staff wellbeing day and regular cold water early morning swims which all staff are invited to attend. I have also run multiple team projects such as when many in the unit were making rugs for the homeless and poppies for the RSL. I have been involved in goal number 13 through educating staff on ways we can reduce environmental impact and save resources, through educating staff on recycling and waste segregation. These have been great team building projects and they support the SDG’s.
Liz Mackie
I think that we continue to improve with areas to look after patients more efficiently, but also to continue to show the empathy and compassion to patients and families that is so needed within healthcare. Research is so important, and there are so many undiscovered areas within the profession that would be so good to continue to delve into.
I hope that we continue to improve and get better and have the profession more respected all over the world.
Praveenkumar Pezhatholil
In fact, current pandemic has given us answers for many of the questions that includes “what is the future of nursing”. Health workers are the most needed workforce especially during this pandemic and Nurses make up the largest segment of the health care profession. No nation can fully flourish until each and every one of its citizens can live the healthiest possible life. And the essential role of nursing has always been helping people live their healthiest possible life.
I hope, many of our people understand the nobility and need of this profession and choose nursing as their profession, which eventually assist us to meet the increased demand for nurses.
Recognising our Nurses and Midwives at NAMAS 2022
Nurses and Midwives are vital to Monash Health and healthcare around the world, and we’re honouring them at our Nursing and Midwifery Awards and Scholarships (NAMAS) event at 1.30pm on Thursday 12 May 2022. For more information, head to the NAMAS intranet page.