As the world salutes the heroes in scrubs, the Far East Regional Hospital ended the month on a high note with a heartfelt International Nurses Day celebration on May 27.

Men and women who work tirelessly behind hospital doors to save lives, comfort patients and keep the healthcare system running were honoured.

This year’s theme is ‘Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives’. One young nurse (23) in her first year as a qualified nurse, Maggie Mehlape, is already discovering the realities, pressures and rewards that come with caring for people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

Mehlape shared with African Reporter her journey into nursing and the lessons she has learned since entering the profession.

Although nursing was not always part of her plan, she said her passion for helping people eventually drew her into the healthcare field.

“Honestly speaking, I wouldn’t say nursing is something that I’ve always wanted to do, but I have a heart for people, reaching out to people and helping them to whatever extent that I can.

“I think nursing is the perfect field for that because you get to help people in their most vulnerable and needy times,” she said.

She said over time she began falling in love with the profession because of the opportunity it gives her to make a difference in people’s lives.

For Mehlape, one of the most rewarding parts of being a nurse is seeing patients recover and leave the hospital in a better condition than when they arrived.

“When you see a patient who came in not being fine, and then they leave the hospital feeling much better than they did when they came, that’s the most rewarding thing,” she said.

Despite the fulfilment that comes with the job, Mehlape admitted nursing can also be emotionally and physically demanding.

She said one of the biggest challenges nurses face daily is the heavy workload, adding that many people do not fully understand the pressures healthcare workers face behind the scenes.

“Nursing is very demanding. Sometimes when nurses don’t fully serve patients the way they want, people feel like it’s because nurses don’t want to help, but it’s simply because of the workload,” she explained.

Mehlape said she copes with the demands of nursing by making time to rest and recharge on her off days.

“I believe so much in revitalising myself spiritually. I read empowering books, pray and spend time finding myself in that moment so I can come back again and serve people effectively,” she said.

She added that being recognised during International Nurses Day felt special and appreciated.

“It feels great that we can be celebrated and honoured for the work that we do,” she said.

Mehlape also encouraged young people interested in nursing to remember the importance of compassion and self-care.

“The most important thing is understanding that you are a human first before you are a nurse, and the people you serve are humans first before they are patients,” she said.

She ended with a message to the community, asking people to show patience and kindness towards nurses.

“Be patient with nurses. They are also humans, and they deserve grace too,” she said.

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Far East Regional Hospital CEO Sonwabo Lindani has praised nurses for their dedication and commitment to patient care despite the ongoing challenges facing the healthcare sector.

“May 12 is a very important day where nurses take a break, pause and are celebrated within the healthcare sector,” he said.

Lindani said investing in nursing education and skills development ultimately benefits communities by ensuring patients are cared for by highly trained professionals.

“The belief is that if nurses are developed, educated and skilled in all the specialities within nursing, communities will receive better care,” he said.

While acknowledging public criticism sometimes directed at nurses, Lindani defended healthcare workers and said many continue to perform exceptionally under difficult conditions.

“We know there is a lot of hard work that nurses are giving. More than 90% of our performance indicators are being met,” he said.

He added that the hospital closely monitors patient complaints and compliments to assess
Lindani admitted staff shortages remain one of the biggest challenges in the healthcare system, explaining that nurses are highly sought after and often leave for other opportunities.

He also encouraged community members to use clinics closer to their homes rather than going directly to hospitals for primary healthcare services.

“When you are sick, your first point should not always be the hospital. Start at the clinic closest to where you live,” he said.

Lindani urged patients with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, TB and hypertension to comply with their treatment plans and keep their appointments to avoid complications. He concluded by thanking nurses for their sacrifices and commitment to serving the community.

“We want to say to our nurses, keep up the good work and continue serving patients with a smile,” he said.

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