By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – Each year on 12 May, the world pauses to celebrate the nurses, the heart and soul of the healthcare system. International Nurse’s Day is not just a date on the calendar, it is a powerful reminder of compassion, care, and dedication, embodied by nurses across the globe.
In a special interview with The Guard newspaper, Sister Tieho Motsoeneng of Elizabeth Ross Hospital shared the deep significance of the day and her personal journey in nursing, rooted in the legacy of Florence Nightingale, who is credited as the founder of modern-day nursing.
“Florence Nightingale is the reason I am a nurse today. She is our mother; she made this profession possible.,” said Motsoeneng with heartfelt conviction.”
Born on 12 May 1820, Florence Nightingale revolutionized healthcare during the Crimean War. She realized that many soldiers died not from their injuries, but from untreated septic wounds and malnutrition.
Known as The Lady with the Lamp, Florence Nightingale became a beacon of hope during her time, tirelessly caring for the wounded by day and night, ensuring their spaces were clean, cooking for them, and even bathing them herself.
“She showed that care meant more than just medicine; it meant hygiene, proper nutrition, and compassionate presence,” Motsoeneng explained.
Now working as the Infection Prevention and Control Coordinator at Elizabeth Ross District Hospital, Motsoeneng’s career spans over three decades. She began her nursing journey at QwaQwa Nursing School on 1 June 1989, qualified in August 1991, and was officially hired as an enrolled nurse on 1 September 1991. Her early career saw her serve in three different clinics until October 1992, after which she joined Elizabeth Ross District Hospital on 1 November 1992, where she has remained a dedicated servant of health to this day.
Over the years, she furthered her studies and became a qualified professional nurse, steadily rising through the ranks with a deep commitment to patient care and safety.
“Florence Nightingale taught us that people who are injured must be taken care of with dignity, that cleanliness and monitoring nutrition are part of healing. That legacy lives on through every nurse today,” said Sister Motsoeneng.”
She added passionately, “Nurses are the backbone of the health profession. We are the first to identify the needs of patients. When a life is saved, we thank God for the collective efforts, but often, it begins with a nurse.”
As the world celebrates International Nurse’s Day, nations honour nurses like Sister Tieho Motsoeneng, who embody the values and courage of Florence Nightingale, and who continue to be the quiet heroes in the story of healing.
“We thank God when a person’s life is saved, and we thank God for Florence Nightingale. That’s why this day is so special. It reminds us why we do what we do,” Motsoeneng concluded.
