Ahead of International Nurses Day 2024 we've had the following comments about our wonderful nurses.

Chief information nursing officer, Simon Barnitt, said:

"Nurses, we thank you, we thank you for your compassion, your listening ear and non-judgemental attitude, your empathy and understanding. We thank you for creating safe spaces where service users can feel hopeful and empowered to express their thoughts and fears without fear of stigma or discrimination. We thank you for the continuous development of your skills in assessing and supporting what are often very complex needs, possessing the expertise to recognise subtle changes in behaviour or mood. Whether it's conducting thorough assessments, developing personalised care plans, or implementing therapeutic interventions, you are at the forefront of delivering high-quality mental healthcare.  

"Nurses, we thank you for being educators, care navigators, advocates for change, breaking down barriers to mental health care to promote a more inclusive, compassionate approach. Nurses we thank you for being beacons of hope, resilience, and healing, and making a profound impact on the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.

"Happy international Nurses Day 2024!"

And perinatal mental health service manager, Amy Jenkin, added:

"This International Nurses Day, I am reflecting on 19 proud years in SHSC and all the caring, thoughtful, hardworking, and dedicated nurses I have worked alongside. Thank you to so many who have shaped my practice, helped me learn and grow, challenged me and been alongside me through some wonderful and some difficult times. 

"Nursing is demanding, we give some of ourselves in this work; it can be costly, and we need each other to get through. I'm lucky to have been well invested in during my career and have always been supported to focus on what matters - the people we are here to care for. In the past six months, whilst on secondment into a nursing leadership role, I have seen SHSC nurses doing a staggeringly broad range of work. There is so much diversity in our services, roles, strengths, and collective experience. I am proud and I hope all our nurses are proud this International Nurses Day. If we can take a minute to remember someone whose life was made better by us, I'm sure we will be."