A day in the life of a nurse

Each year, nurses pledge to serve human life, uphold the highest standards of this medical field, and spread awareness about diseases and health risks.

Nurse Sabelo Tshabalala has been upholding this standard for over five years at Standerton Hospital. He recently surpassed nine years in the industry.

Tshabalala decided he wanted to be a nurse when a family member started suffering from severe mental illness.

“Because of the lack of awareness, we could not offer proper help as a family. I wanted to learn how to help that family member, so I applied to a nursing college,” stated Tshabalala.

Today, he is an advocate for mental health and spreads awareness. According to Tshabalala, there are several ways to become a nurse.

In high school, future nursing students must have biology (life sciences) and mathematics. Good English marks are favourable because it is the primary language used in a hospital setting.

“After completing high school, students can enroll at a university or apply to a nursing college,” said Tshabalala.

He explained at a university, students can obtain their master’s and even doctorate degrees in nursing, whereas most nursing colleges only hand out diplomas and higher certificates.

Typically, a nursing student studies between one and four years, earning a higher certificate for one year; a diploma for three years and a Baccalaureate degree for four years.

Nursing students have to undergo practical training along with theoretical studies. The duties of a nurse are seemingly endless.

“We must promote health and wellness by spreading awareness,” stated Tshabalala.

Nurses also play a substantial role in health education, preventative health and screening, treating diseases in time and with the correct prescribed medicine; treating in- and outpatients and ensuring patients make a full recovery.

They are involved in every process of treating and curing diseases. There are several directions a nurse can take and many fields to specialise in, including community nursing, midwifery, psychiatry, trauma, orthopaedic, theatre nursing, optimal nursing and much more.

Each field has its ups and downs, but every nurse takes the same oath. Working in the medical field can have many challenges.
Often, nurses form bonds with patients who pass away.

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“It is heartbreaking when you get to know the person behind the disease and have to say goodbye,” stated Tshabalala.

Nurses work long hours for little pay and can garner a bad reputation because of biased thinking and prejudice within the community.

Tshabalala, however, believes that seeing patients recover and return to their families makes it worthwhile.

“We are the heartbeat of the healthcare system, always at the forefront, ready to be an excellent role model within our communities,” said Tshabalala.

When nurses pledge themselves to the service of humanity, they promise to spread awareness and do everything in their power to do it and prevent disease.

“Though we spend long hours on our feet, tending to the community’s needs, our passion for the profession makes it worthwhile,” concluded Tshabalala.

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