HMC celebrates International Nurses Day with ‘Day in the Life’ campaign

In recognition of International Nurses Day, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is promoting the vital role nurses play in leading patient care through a new campaign that uses picture-based profiles. 

International Nurses Day was established in 1965 and marks the birth of Florence Nightingale, the famous English nurse who pioneered modern nursing. The campaign, titled ‘A Day in the Life of a Nurse,’ was launched on 12 May in recognition of International Nurses Day and profiles the work of nurses in different roles and departments across the Corporation’s network. 

Professor Ann-Marie Cannaby, HMC’s Executive Director of Corporate Nursing, said the campaign was initiated to celebrate the work and achievement of HMC’s nurses, including the growth and development of many of the Corporation’s Qatari nurse leaders, while giving the public insight into the various duties performed by nurses. 

“As a Corporation, we are transforming in order to meet the healthcare needs of the rapidly growing population. We are promoting public health, encouraging healthy lifestyles and providing best practice hospital-based and continuing care services that meet the needs of Qatar’s diverse and rapidly growing population,” said Professor Cannaby. “Nurses are key members of the multidisciplinary care teams that serve our patients and their families. We take the responsibility of providing the safest, most effective and compassionate care very seriously,” she added. 

Fiona O’Riordan, a charge nurse at Hamad General Hospital’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), is one of the nurses featured in the campaign. 

O’Riordan said she is both proud and grateful for the service she provides to patients at the PICU, adding it is important that nurses are empowered to be strong advocates for their patients. 

"Nurses are at the very heart of healthcare. It is a profession with great responsibility; people's lives are in our hands, literally. It is truly an honor to be in this role. If all I do during a shift is to give the gift of hope to my patients and their families, I know I'm doing my best. I am really thankful to be a nurse. It's not always easy, but it's worth it," O’Riordan stated. 

The day in the life campaign builds on work being undertaken by HMC’s Nursing Department as part of its Nursing Strategy, launched last year. The Strategy establishes the foundation for changes that are transforming the Corporation’s nursing service to meet Qatar’s increasing healthcare demands and includes the development of a framework for investment in targeted education and research programs and the development of Qatari nurse leaders.