12 May 2025 marks another important milestone in the global healthcare calendar International Nurses Day. Celebrated each year on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth, this day is more than a ceremonial occasion. It is a heartfelt recognition of the relentless commitment, bravery, and care nurses provide to our communities, often in the most trying circumstances.
This year’s theme, “Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for Nurses Strengthens Economies,” resonates powerfully within South Africa and especially within the values and mission of the National Public Service Workers Union (NPSWU). This theme is not just a slogan it is a call to action.
Nurses are often described as the backbone of the healthcare system. They are the frontline responders during pandemics, epidemics, and day-to-day health crises. Whether in high-tech hospitals or under-resourced rural clinics, nurses deliver essential care that saves lives, restores dignity, and nurtures hope.
In South Africa, nurses often serve in extremely challenging environments-dealing with patient overload, insufficient medical supplies, inadequate infrastructure, and long hours. Despite these conditions, they continue to serve with compassion and resilience, forming the first line of defense in protecting community health. But these daily heroics often go unacknowledged, underfunded, and unsupported.
For NPSWU, a union that represents the interests of thousands of public service workers, including healthcare professionals, International Nurses Day is not just about recognition-it’s about advocating for systemic change.
Many nurses in public hospitals face long shifts, unsafe working environments, and lack of basic protective gear. These conditions affect not only the well-being of nurses but also the quality of care patients receive. NPSWU continues to demand:
- Safer staffing ratios
- Mandatory rest and recovery periods
- Protective equipment availability
- A workplace free from violence and harassment
These are not luxuries-they are human rights.
Despite their vital role, many nurses earn wages that do not reflect the emotional and physical demands of their work. In light of rising living costs, stagnant salaries, and widening income inequality, NPSWU calls for:
- A wage structure that reflects the complexity and importance of nursing
- Overtime compensation
- Transparent, fair promotion systems
The psychological toll of nursing is immense. Nurses witness suffering, trauma, and death more frequently than most professions. This can lead to burnout, depression, and emotional exhaustion. SANC’s Impairment Committee plays a key role in supporting nurses found unfit to practice, helping them rehabilitate and return safely to service.
NPSWU supports:
- Access to mental health care for all nurses
- Peer support programs
- De-stigmatizing psychological impairment
South Africa faces a growing shortage of nurses-particularly specialists such as midwives, psychiatric nurses, and critical care professionals. NPSWU joins SANC in advocating for:
- Expanded nursing training programs
- Greater investment in nursing colleges
- Funding for continuous professional development
- Recognition of specializations through better pay and opportunities
A well-educated nursing workforce is the cornerstone of a strong healthcare system.
On this International Nurses Day 2025, NPSWU calls on:
- Government to implement sustainable funding for nurse development and safety.
- Health departments to include nurses in planning and decision-making.
- Healthcare administrators to listen to nurses and act on their feedback.
- The public to treat nurses with respect and speak up when they are mistreated.
- Nurses themselves to continue organizing, advocating, and leading the change.
This year’s celebration is not the end it is a beginning. Nurses deserve more than applause. They deserve action, legislation, and investment. As NPSWU, we recommit ourselves to standing shoulder to shoulder with nurses not just today, but every day. Because when we care for nurses, we care for everyone.
To the nurses of South Africa: You are seen. You are valued. You are not alone.
For any queries related to this article, please contact:
communications@npswu.org or call 079 032 4768.
Written by Cde. Ayabonga Ngubane, National NPSWU PR Officer