International Nurses Day : Celebrating the heartfelt dedication of South Africa's nursing heroes
On International Nurses Day, Netcare's group director of nursing Mary Ann Nabbie, hails everyone in the nursing profession whose kindness, compassion and valuable skills provide care and comfort from the heart to care for strangers and uphold their dignity at times of greatest need.
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On this International Nurses Day, we delve into the inspiration that fuels these healthcare heroes, who bring not only their skills but also their hearts to the bedside, forging personal connections that resonate far beyond the confines of medical practice.
Mary Ann Nabbie, Netcare's group director of nursing, reflects on her personal journey into the nursing profession, revealing how her childhood dreams were shaped by poignant life events.
'Since I was a child, I was inspired to become an intensive care nurse, so it is deeply personal to me. My father passed away when I was young, and I experienced first-hand the empathy and professionalism the nurses displayed during an extremely difficult time for us,' she shares. Her experience has become a driving force in her commitment to nursing, where each day is imbued with personal significance and purpose.
Nabbie emphasises that nursing is not just a career—it's a vocation that allows individuals to extend their skills and warmth to others. 'Nursing is about reaching out to the next person with your skills and your heart, empathising and comforting another human being. This International Nurses Day, we celebrate the contribution of nurses as the backbone of healthcare,' she states, highlighting the essential role they play in the wellbeing of individuals and communities.
The nursing profession offers a diverse array of specialisations, from trauma and emergency care to paediatric and oncology nursing. 'This is a profession that provides enormous scope to learn and develop,' Nabbie explains. 'Nursing is vast and dynamic, and the roles and specialisations are varied. It's more than a career, nursing has equipped me for life.' After acquiring international experience and returning to South Africa, she rose through the ranks, ultimately assuming her current senior leadership role within Netcare.
Nabbie's insights inspire future generations to consider the nursing profession. 'If you love people, you can find your niche in nursing. We hold a place of trust in our communities that is earned through embedding ourselves in the values of nursing.' She encourages aspiring nurses to embrace their interest and knowledge, noting, 'Being a nurse allows you to find your specific calling, and it will find you as your interest and knowledge develops in your chosen field. If you step up in the role, nursing will allow you to do great things.'
On this special day, Nabbie extends gratitude to all nurses within the Netcare Group, acknowledging their vast and often unseen contributions to patient care. 'We thank everyone in the nursing profession whose kindness, compassion and valuable skills provide care and comfort from the heart to care for strangers and uphold their dignity at times of greatest need and vulnerability, as we would for members of our own family.'
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I mean, nursing is a calling and that's fine, but in a country like ours, your safety should come first.' Reflecting on being Groote Schuur's first male nursing manager, Mohamed shrugs, exuding pride and confidence in his position. He intends to celebrate International Nurses Day with a formal event and gift boxes for his staff. 'We take any opportunity to boost morale, you can see the effect in people's facial expressions,' he said. Manenberg inspiration As a child growing up in Manenberg, Mohamed said that in the mornings he would stand on a kist (chest) at their front window watching the neighbours — two nurses in crisp uniforms — leave for work. 'They were two sisters,' he recalled. 'I used to be very curious about them; the way they dressed, the way the community admired them. I was fascinated. I used to stand up on the kist watching them walk up the road to catch the bus.' Back then, it was safe for them to walk in the dark, he said. In a poetic twist of fate, one of the neighbours who inspired Mohamed as a child, Sister Shahieda Kader, was now among his staff at Groote Schuur. Additional inspiration in his formative years was a district nurse who cared for his grandmother, who had a foot wound due to diabetes. 'The district nurse would interact with my grandmother and bring a smile to her face. The wound wouldn't heal, but when the nurse came to our house, we saw how she made that wound better! And eventually my gran was able to walk again. This woman, she brought hope into our family,' he recalled. Mohamed started his diploma in general nursing at the former Nico Malan Nursing College in 1995, followed by more qualifications. Today, with five bars on his nursing epaulettes, he remains involved in Manenberg. Along with friends, he organises a year-end party for up to 350 elderly people each year. 'It's because of these older people that we are who we are today,' he says. 'You know, they were our role models, so I always feel like I owe them something.' DM
