A Lifetime in Scrubs: Reflections of a Retired Nurse on International Nurses Day

May 12 — More Than Just a Date

Every year on May 12, nurses around the world are honored. For the public, it might be a calendar observance. But for me, it’s deeply personal. It marks the birth of Florence Nightingale, the very woman who gave birth to the profession that became my life’s purpose.

As a retired nurse with over 35 years of experience, International Nurses Day is a gentle reminder — of the lives touched, the battles fought in hospital corridors, and the silent victories won at bedsides.

The Calling That Never Ends

People often ask me, “When did you decide to become a nurse?” Truth be told, I didn’t choose nursing — nursing chose me. I began my career in the early 1980s when resources were scarce, but human touch was abundant. There were no fancy machines, no smart apps. Just hands, hearts, and hope.

Back then, we used kerosene lamps during power cuts, hand-pumped oxygen when machines failed, and whispered prayers during long nights. Nursing was not just a job; it was a calling — a service to life itself.

2025 Theme: “Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies.”

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) couldn’t have chosen a more powerful theme this year. In 2025, we’re not just celebrating the hands that heal but emphasizing how nurses shape the health of entire economies. A healthy nurse means a healthy hospital. A healthy hospital means a stronger society.

As someone who has seen decades of change — from typewritten reports to digital diagnostics — I know this: when you care for a nurse, you’re investing in the future of public health.

The Unseen Heroics of Nurses

There were countless times I held a patient’s hand as they breathed their last… and other times when I cried with joy because a premature baby survived against all odds. No newspaper printed our stories. No awards were given.

But nurses don’t seek applause — we seek comfort for others.

I once bandaged a migrant worker’s foot who had walked 30 km without shoes. He simply folded his hands and said, “You’re my mother today.” That was my award.

From the Frontlines to the Background

Now retired, I no longer wear the white uniform or hear the hospital alarm bells. But in my heart, I remain a nurse. Every time I see a young nurse working overtime, I silently cheer. Every time I read about nurses saving lives during disasters, I beam with pride.

To the nurses of today: You are warriors in scrubs. You carry the torch that Florence lit and many of us passed to you. It’s your time to shine, to heal, and to lead.

A Message to the World

This Nurses Day, I urge every citizen to do one thing: Thank a nurse.
Whether it’s a message, a hug, or a heartfelt smile — let them know they’re seen, heard, and valued. They don’t just administer medicines; they administer humanity.

And to every nurse reading this, remember:

You are not “just a nurse.”
You are the difference between pain and peace, fear and hope, despair and dignity.

Parting Words

Even in retirement, my pulse still races when I pass by a hospital. I may no longer wear the uniform, but my soul still stitches wounds, still comforts strangers, still believes in the magic of healing.

Happy International Nurses Day to every healer out there.
May your hands never tire, your hearts never harden, and your spirits always stay strong.

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