Honouring our Nurses.

 

In honour of International Nurses Day, it is important to highlight the crucial role that nurses have played during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two recent articles shed light on the challenges that nurses have faced during the pandemic and the need for their voices to be heard in decision-making processes.

The first article, "We're on mute! Exclusion of nurses' voices in national decisions and responses to COVID‐19: An international perspective" published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing in July 2022, highlights the exclusion of nurses from important decision-making processes during the pandemic. The article argues that nurses, who are on the frontlines of the pandemic response, have been marginalized and excluded from national discussions and decision-making processes. This exclusion has resulted in a lack of consideration for the practical realities of nursing care and has contributed to the burnout and frustration experienced by many nurses.

The second article, "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Australian hospital-based nursing and midwifery educators" published in Collegian in June 2022, focuses on the impact of the pandemic on nursing and midwifery educators in Australia. The article highlights the agility demonstrated by educators in adjusting to the fast-changing requirements of providing education during the pandemic. However, the article also emphasises the need for continued occupational and psychosocial support for educators during the pandemic, as well as inclusion in discussions to inform hospitals' preparedness for managing the education of nurses and midwives during future pandemics.

Taken together, these articles highlight the important role that nurses play in responding to pandemics and the need for their voices to be heard in decision-making processes. The pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities and gaps in healthcare systems around the world, and it is essential that nurses are included in discussions to ensure that future responses are more effective and equitable. On this International Nurses Day, it is important to recognise the contributions of nurses and advocate for their inclusion in decision-making processes to ensure that their expertise is valued and utilized.

Both articles are linked to the full-text pdf.