The Malta Union Of Midwives and Nurse’s (MUMN) said that “today, the 12th of May is a day where we recognize the contributions and commitments of the nurses not just on our islands but in all the world.”

“But what is important on this day is that the general public and not the just patients are made aware of the significance and the work which the nurses perform in their daily work,” MUMN said.

“In Malta we consider Nursing as a vocation and there is a reason behind it. Nursing is something which is more than just a job. Nursing will effect and mould your life making that person a very sensitive person to the needs of others. Nurses are there from the beginning of ones life on this Earth and nurses are also there when the time come to part from this life. So that is why in the old days most nurses were from a religious order. Since the church in its teachings always says that God is there with you from the minute a person is born till his/her death,” the union went on to say.

MUMN said it has put Malta in the centre of the Nursing world. This was due to the fact that MUMN was chosen to host the most prestigious event in nursing by having the International of Council Nurses conference. Malta was not only the host of 2,000 nurses but also was host of the International Council Of Nurses assembly where nursing representatives from 133 countries meet to decide major issues which are effecting the nursing profession worldwide. To commemorate such a historic event a nursing monument at Boffa Gardens was unveiled by the Prime Minister to commemorate and honour the nursing profession on our islands.

MIMN said that the public perspective is that nurses are there to change dressings and to give injections. That is far from the truth. Nurses are there for a holistic care addressing the person as a whole. Let me share this experience with you, that is something I believe nurses meet in their duties:

“I remember one evening shift, I learned that one demented patient became very aggressive, kicked and punched some of our staff late in the morning. Nobody dares to approach her. I was her nurse that evening so when I approached her my heart was in my throat.

I knocked on her door, slowly entered her room and started calling out her name. She was lying in her bed in tears. She told me she misses her family and she has a severe back pain. I wiped her tears, gave her pain killers, touched her hand and I started a simple nurses prayer. Both of us are in tears and she was smiling back at me afterwards.

Moments like that breaks my heart to be a nurse, but it was also a wonderful experience that you can ever imagine, holding someone’s hand when they are dying and no one else by their side. It’s amazing how a simple smile and warm handshake can touch or make their day. Or when they finally get discharged they have another chance to live and be loved.”

The MUMN President, Paul Pace, concluded, “the MUMN is honoured to represent nurses who are rendering a service on our islands and wish to thank them. I say this statement not as President of MUMN but as a person since any work which makes a real contribution to the decency, comfort, wisdom and happiness of a person merits to be honoured and remembered.”

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