PA nurses ‘the salt of the earth’
CANDICE BRADFIELD
THERE was much singing and dancing as the nursing staff at Port Alfred Hospital celebrated International Nurses Day a day early last Friday.
| FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK: Port Alfred Hospital celebrated International Nurses Day last Friday. From left are Marianne Stiglingh (acting nursing services manager for Netcare), Lulu Mbeleni (nursing services manager for the department of health), Darlene de Vos (general manager for Netcare) and Bongi Deleki (chairman of the Democratic Nurses Organisation of South Africa) As the theme for this year's Nurses Day was colour, the nurses were asked to stick their hands in paint and make a hand print on a banner Picture: CANDICE BRADFIELD |
Acting nursing services manager for Netcare, Marianne Stiglingh, said they wanted to thank their nurses for all their hard work.
Pastor Dale von Volkenburg from River Ministries opened the day with a prayer.
"Caring for people touches the heart of God,” he said.
General manager for Netcare, Darlene de Vos, thanked the nurses for giving of themselves to everyone who came in the door.
"Nurses of Port Alfred hospital, you are the salt of the earth,” she said.
Nursing services manager for the department of health, Lulu Mbeleni, said that as a public-private partnership hospital, both sides had been working well together.
"We have been working together efficiently which means the patients can be the priority,” she said.
"We would like the community to recognise the differences the nurses are making.”
The nurses finished with the Florence Nightingale Pledge:
"I solemnly pledge myself before God and presence of this assembly;
To pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully.
I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug.
I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling.
With loyalty will I endeavour to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.”
