Celebrating Our Profession, Celebrating Each Other

BCNU members and nurses around the world felt a well-deserved sense of pride last year when, for the first time, the World Health Organization proclaimed 2020 the Year of the Nurse and Midwife. Little could we have known that 2020 would indeed be a year when nurses would be recognized by all.  

The COVID-19 pandemic has served to highlight nurses' invaluable role in saving lives and improving health on a provincial, national and global level. The year 2020 has challenged BC's nurses like no other. Even before the pandemic hit, the nursing profession was grappling with increased patient acuity, complex population needs, and a health-care system struggling to meet demands.

That's why it is more important than ever for nurses to support each other and celebrate the invaluable contributions they make in the lives of their patients, residents and clients.

Earlier this year, BCNU encouraged members to take time to thank their colleagues and their nursing community for their ongoing efforts to provide safe patient care. We saw an outpouring of recognition and gratitude during National Nursing Week, when hundreds of members wrote to tell us what their co-workers mean to them, and to acknowledge the important work they do. 

We've profiled some of these members and asked them to tell us more about what their co-workers mean to them. Keep an eye on your BCNU eNews for more profiles throughout 2020 – The Year of the Nurse.