May 11, 2016
International Nurses’ Day – Improving health systems’ resilience
International Nurses’ Day tomorrow (May 12, 2016) is always something to celebrate here in Canterbury but this year’s
theme resonates more than ever.
Mary Gordon, Canterbury District Health Board Executive Director of Nursing, says this year’s theme Nurses A Force of
Change: Improving health systems’ resilience couldn’t be more appropriate.
“This year’s theme focuses on how nurses can make an enormous impact on the resilience of health systems.
The International Council of Nursing quotes ‘Campbell et al’, who describes health system resilience as: “... its
capacity to respond, adapt and strengthen when exposed to a shock, such as a disease outbreak, natural disaster, or
conflict”.
Ms Gordon says improving our health systems’ resilience has certainly been the case for Canterbury.
“Every decision nurses make in their practice can make a significant difference in the efficiency and effectiveness of
the entire system. Our regions’ nurses have learned to demonstrate strong resilience.
“Particularly those who have dealt with the Canterbury quakes.
“And it’s this resilience of our nursing work force, which as has meant we didn’t implode and that we’ve managed to
continue to deliver a world class health system.”
Ms Gordon says she would like to acknowledge and thank all nursing staff for the care and compassion that is provided to
patients, their family and whanau during a time of great change for our health system.
ENDS