By GO Correspondent

By GO Correspondent T H E 12th of May, the ann i v e r s a r y of Florence Nightingale’s birth is observed as International Nurses Day. The Goan Observer looks into what is the essence of nursing. The campaign this year is based on the theme, Our Nurses. Our Future. It sets out what is needed for nursing in the future in order to address the global health challenges and improve global health for all. We need to learn from the lessons of the pandemic where nurses played a vital role, and translate these into actions of the future. If the nurses have to have a good future, we need to care for their needs. The essence of a nurse is nursing itself. The very presence of an empathetic nurse is half the cure. The nurse is the key to providing safe, effective, and compassionate care. Despite the rapidly changing healthcare environment, one constant remains: The nurse, is the healthcare professional who’s with the patient and family 24×7 and forms an essential part of the health care team. The nurse creates and nurtures a relationship with the patient and family through a constant presence and handson care. She or he gets to know the patient and family better than any other healthcare provider, learning their wishes, fears, capabilities, and challenges. It’s the nurse in whom the patient confides in the middle of the night and to whom the patient’s loved ones turn for information, support, and solace. When a patient experiences overt distress or deteriorates suddenly, the nurse is likely to be the first one on the scene, initiating rescue procedures. More often than not, it’s the nurse who detects subtle changes in vital signs or behavior that signal a serious or life-threatening event. The literature tells us that when nurses have the right preparation and are present at the right place and the right time, patient outcomes improve. In collaboration with interdisciplinary colleagues, nurses’ highly skilled, competent, compassionate care can help prevent the patient’s functional decline, eliminate knowledge deficits for the patient and family, and promote their engagement in health care. Presence and vigilance are key elements of the essence of nursing. But along with the privilege of being “the one who’s there” comes a tremendous responsibility and accountability. Nurses are, and always have been, the patient’s first and last line of defense. Keeping the patient safe from preventable adverse events—such as falls, pressure ulcers, infections, and immobility complications— are high on nurses’ priority list as they manage and coordinate the patient’s care to ensure safe passage through the care-delivery system. The Our Nurses. Our Future.campaign will shine the light on nurses and on a brighter future.