International Nurses' Day: Celebrating the way we care for our nurses
Each year on 12 May, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth, the world comes together to honour the extraordinary contributions of nurses for International Nurses' Day.
Organised by the International Council of Nurses, this year’s theme highlights caring for our nurses and the urgent need to protect, support and empower those who work tirelessly in the profession.
At Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to celebrate International Nurses’ Day 2025 by spotlighting the ways we, as an NHS trust and group of colleagues, care for those who care for others — from personal stories of nurses' resilience, to meaningful initiatives that prioritise wellbeing and growth:
Vanessa Hyland retired from a 50-year career in the NHS earlier this year. Here, for International Nurses Day (May 12 2025), she reflects on navigating the unthinkable at the height of her career, thanks to the support around her.
I still remember the sound of the ambulances. My son Christopher had borrowed my car that day in 2008 – it was filled with my nursing kit. That sinking feeling came instantly, but nothing prepares you for the knock at the door, the way time stands still when you get the news you hope you never have to hear.
He was just 18 when the accident happened. A confident boy who was full of life. He had started an apprenticeship in cabinet making so he was a creative person, but his real skills were with people. He was always chatting to the older generation, soaking up their stories.
We’d had a birthday party not long before for my mum who was in her late 70s and Christopher sat around the table talking away to all of her elderly friends, like he was one of them. He had a way of making people feel at ease, like they could share anything with him.
Losing him shattered me. I’d seen death and comforted the bereaved, but nothing prepared me for losing my boy. I didn’t want to be here. I couldn’t leave the house, which became a shrine to him, spending hours in his room just crying. I lost my marriage and pieces of myself.
But through the darkness, I still had nursing.
After a few months in a fog of grief, my very supportive manager stepped in and arranged for me to transfer to a rural team. It was a time away from the world’s eyes and judgement, but a method of slowly, carefully allowing me to continue doing what I loved to do.
There was never another career choice for me than nursing. Back in 1974, newly qualified I put on a long black raincoat and hopped on an old policeman’s bike to visit patients in high-rise flats in West London. This early taste of district nursing life was the start of the rest of my career.
Over the years, I rose through the ranks to become a team leader, sister and mentor. Throughout it all, I discovered a passion for teaching. The joy of watching young nurses grow and thrive in their careers has been one of the most fulfilling parts of the job. But when Christopher died, all of these feelings had gone.
What saved me was the kindness of colleagues. The manager who took me in and listened when I was having difficulties. My colleague who helped me back into work gently, took me to the GP when I was hit down with stress and illness and my team who stood by me, who understood when I crumbled without warning.
It took many years but soon glimmers of the nurse I had been, returned. At KCHFT, I have spent that last nine to ten years working somewhere that I felt truly respected and cared for by my team mates. During my time here, I have taught and mentored countless student nurses, leading by example.
I retired earlier this year, a surprise semi-centenary celebration surrounded by cake and colleagues that mean the world to me. I can’t keep away, still sneaking in shifts on the staff bank.
One of my students who I had mentored, Jane Ham, wrote in a news piece about my retirement that I was ‘kind, caring and supportive.’ That I could ‘talk to a patient and get them on board, every time.’ The words are humbling, but I think when you’ve been through what I have, you can open your heart to others, much more easily.
Where I live, I am still forced to drive past the spot where we lost Christopher, every day. It never gets easier. Every time, a part of me is transported back to that to that moment – the sirens ringing in my ears.
Reflecting back on my life and career two things are certain - I’m still, and always will be, Christopher’s mum. And, even as I retire, I’m still and always will be a nurse.
To mark International Nurses Day, I am opening up to you all, to help us all remember that behind every nurse’s uniform is a story. We carry our own pain even as we care for others through theirs so we must treat each other – and ourselves – with kindness.
Vita Martin-Achong worked as a midwife then health visitor, before moving into programme management. Here she reflects on leading by example when it comes to wellbeing of the nursing colleagues in her team.
I moved to the UK from Trinidad and Tobago in 1988 to become a midwife. It was a bold move but I wasn’t alone – I had the support of colleagues who made the journey with me.
There was a fascination about us in those early days. People were curious, sometimes asking questions based on stereotypes: ‘do you wear grass skirts?’ – but I saw those moments as a chance to educate people about my culture and where I came from. I loved every minute of the job I chose to do.
I began my NHS journey in midwifery, moved into health visiting in the early 2000s then took on roles as a practice teacher, coordinator and education lead, I look back with immense pride at all of my achievements. But I couldn’t have done it without my colleagues.
One of the things I love about nursing is the support. When you train, you build close bonds with your cohort – that sense of connection is so strong. As I moved up the bandings, I did notice a shift in that feeling. Sometimes it feels lonely at the top, especially as one of very few Black women to have achieved it.
That’s why I set up a small clinical supervision group with other programme managers. It’s a space to support each other. I also cherish my membership to our BAME Network and the allies and role models it has given me all across KCHFT.
We are in very challenging times and the complexity of nursing is growing. I now notice that issues traditionally part of our work helping and supporting families, are now impacting our colleagues. Things like financial turmoil, acute mental health issues, burnout and breakdown. We all have a real duty to support our nurses’ wellbeing. That means checking in with others and also looking after ourselves. This is how I like to operate as a manager.
I always say – if I’m telling others to look after themselves as a manager, I have to show that I’m doing it too. I look after my mental health with exercise – the stress relief of body combat classes and aqua aerobics and I talk about them openly. It’s about finding what works for you and giving yourself permission to enjoy it. I will never deny my team these small, important mechanisms that help us switch off. I also place value on in-office days and chances for our teams to bond and connect.
We have good systems in place here at KCHFT - from appraisals, performance and well-being check-ins to wellbeing resources – and I’ve used many of them myself. But it’s the people that make the difference. We support each other. That’s what makes this profession so special.
Alison Phelan started as a community nurse at KCHFT in 2023, following a career in education. She was chosen to take part in the 10-week rotational pilot with Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT), this year.
"I was thrilled, yet a bit nervous, when I was selected for the 10-week rotational pilot programme. As a community nurse, I had experience working with patients in their homes and supporting their wellbeing, but this was a chance to dive deeper into mental health care, something I’ve always been interested in.
"At first, everything felt so different. The work environment, the way care was delivered and the team dynamics were all new to me. But from day one, the team at KMPT were incredibly supportive. They helped me settle in and encouraged me to get involved. It’s a very different world from community nursing so I was also an asset to them as I could answer questions they had about physical health, too.
"During the placement so far, I have worked alongside community psychiatric nurses, doctors, psychotherapists and support workers. I shadowed them during patient assessments and it was an eye-opening experience. I learned so much about conditions like psychosis and schizophrenia and how mental health diagnoses impact individuals in ways that can sometimes be hard to see. It’s expanded my understanding of mental health and the vital role nurses play in this area.
"I have been actively involved in regular well-being checks for patients. This included taking vital signs and checking capillary blood glucose levels as part of routine monitoring. One memorable case involved a patient who appeared to have undiagnosed or poorly managed diabetes. I noticed some signs and referred them to their GP for further tests, including an HbA1c check and a review of their medication to help get their blood sugar under control.
"Alongside physical health assessments, have I also supported patients dealing with a range of mental health issues. This part of the role really highlighted the importance of empathy and good communication. By listening carefully and building trust, I was able to help assess how they were feeling and record their symptoms accurately.
"I had the chance to join the GP on follow-up visits, too. Based on what we observed, some patients were started on medications like antipsychotics or benzodiazepines to help manage more severe symptoms and support their recovery.
"One of the biggest takeaways for me three weeks in to the pilot, has been how to see the whole person — not just their physical needs, which I think is really valuable in community nursing. We are so busy in our roles, that we often focus on wounds or medications, but forget what else might be going on for that person that isn’t visible, or part of our traditional medical training.
"I’ve learned how to support patients experiencing mental health issues, where to signpost them and how to act if someone is in crisis. I’ve built useful connections with mental health services that will help me in my role. I want to take everything I’ve learned and share it with colleagues, to create a culture of holistic care.
"This placement has shown me the importance of caring for both physical and mental health. As community nurses, we’re not just there for the body, we’re there for the whole person and that’s a privilege I don’t take for granted."
For Danielle Windus, a research nurse, giving yourself permission to change direction and the ongoing impact of her work is what gives her cause to celebrate this International Nurses Day.
Danielle’s career began in some of the NHS’s most challenging settings, including infectious disease, A&E and prison nursing.
“It taught me so much about responsibility and autonomy,” she said. “Working in prisons was when I first started to realise I had a bit of an eye for research. I ended up writing my own protocol for TB – from testing to contact tracing to safer cell placements. It was my first real experience of being able to make change happen.”
It was moments like that which first sparked her interest in research and showed her it wasn’t only for academics.
“At universities, everything was about evidence-based practice, but you don’t always realise you can be part of creating that evidence. As a nurse, you can shape future care.”
After relocating to Kent in 2018 and returning from maternity leave, Danielle found herself at a crossroads.
“I applied for clinical and research roles,” she explained. “I didn’t really know what research nursing involved, but something about it clicked. It felt like a way to still care for patients, while being part of broader, system-wide change.”
She became part of a small but busy research delivery team supporting clinical services to set up and run studies. “We aren’t that well known,” she admitted. “But we do a huge amount with a very small team who works closely with other colleagues.”
Danielle’s role is incredibly varied. One day she might be recruiting patients and supporting with paperwork, another she could be drawing blood, dispensing medication or carrying out hands-on care.
She explained: “I flex between admin and clinical support depending on what each team needs. I do as much or as little as they need to keep the study running smoothly.”
What motivates her most is seeing research make a tangible difference. A vocational rehab study supporting people to return to work after a stroke in 2019 was one particular highlight for her.
She said: “It was about helping patients regain their skills and, for many, their identity. One woman broke down in tears, saying the study had given her husband a new lease of life. I’ll never forget that moment. It was job satisfaction on a different level.”
Danielle helped develop and deliver the study alongside the trust’s neuro rehab team. Thanks to its early success, it was later considered as part of routine practice. “It was just incredible. Our therapists were so adaptive, especially as it launched during COVID, when much of the therapy had to be done remotely.”
Danielle has turned her hand to across multiple studies – including one screening children for early signs of type 1 diabetes.
She recalled: “We are currently going into schools and offering finger-prick tests, looking for early markers before they become dangerously unwell. It is a big shift working with children as an adult nurse, but I loved working with patient groups and still having patient contact. That’s what kept me going.”
She is open about how the move into research has been the right choice for her, offering a good balance of clinical and desk work and something she feels fits well with family life.
“There was so much flexibility and understanding as soon as I started this role and I feel like I’ve really progressed in my knowledge and expertise. When your job lets you grow, it’s everything
Jacqui Griffin’s 38-year nursing career isn’t just a testament to her personal dedication and resilience, but a reflection of the colleagues and managers who supported her throughout.
"Working in infection prevention and control on covid wards during a global pandemic might not sound like the makings of a career highlight. But honestly, for me, it was a pinnacle moment.
"It was both the most heart-breaking time to work in the NHS and the best. It was a time when the power of teams pulling together was real and I saw what makes the NHS such a special place to work. We care, not only for patients, but deeply for each other.
"I remember one moment, early in the pandemic, when the reality hit me. A colleague put down the phone after speaking with a patient’s children and broke down in tears. She’d had to tell them their father had died. Their mother had died just two weeks earlier. These kinds of conversations are part of nursing, but the sheer scale of what happened to families every day, was breath-taking.
"At some point, every member of my team had a little cry. There was no shame in it in our team. Someone would walk into the staff room and say: “That was awful,” and we’d all just get it. That kind of camaraderie held us together.
"It wasn’t unusual to hear that a ward had lost three or four patients in a week, across all age groups. To cope, we had to adapt. Not just to keep patients safe, but to protect ourselves from emotional exhaustion. We changed how we worked and we looked out for each other.
"With support from my manager, I started working weekends and took time off midweek to break up the intensity. That simple adjustment made me feel more in control and better able to give patients the care they needed. It also showed me what good leadership looks like – how flexibility and kindness are repaid with loyalty and commitment.
From right to left me with Eva Del Sastre Mesa, Sally Disleris-Beck, Debbie Dobson, Katie Martinez
"With time and perspective, I’ve come to see that this period wasn’t just painful. It was meaningful. It helped shape the kind of leader I wanted to be.
"Not long after the pandemic, I joined Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust as Assistant Director of Infection Prevention and Control. I now lead on infection prevention strategies, policies and staff training in the field. It’s a role I feel proud to hold.
"While I was humbled to step into the post, I knew I had spent a career preparing for it – from my beginnings in elderly care to my time as a sister on a rehabilitation ward. What truly drove me was the chance to give something back. I wanted to offer my team the same culture of care that helped me thrive through the most challenging times.
"Soon after I started, my father was diagnosed with cancer. I found myself juggling hospital appointments, night-time phone calls and the emotional weight of caring for a loved one while leading a busy NHS team. Looking back, I know I was close to breaking point.
“If it gets too much, take a break,” my line manager said. “Take a nap if you need to, a day off, whatever helps.” I never took that extra time off, but those words were enough. Just knowing she saw me and understood was what kept me going through those long, dark days.
"So this International Nurses Day, as I reflect on 38 years of nursing and prepare for retirement, I can look back knowing this: The job has always been about people. It’s about being there for each other when it matters most and that means both our patients and the colleagues we work alongside. And that, more than anything, is what I’ll take with me."
At our community hospital rehabilitation units, like Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital, nursing doesn’t stop when the day ends. While the rest of the hospital quietens down, the night team is hard at work, supporting patients through recovery and one another through every shift.
“We help patients from when they come in, to when they go home,” said Janet Clark, a healthcare assistant. “It can be challenging at first if someone has lost their confidence and struggles to engage with rehab, but we encourage them and each other too. We lift one another up and that keeps us going.”
Chigozirim Chinyere, a nurse who moved to the UK from Nigeria to follow her dream of becoming a nurse, agrees. “It’s rewarding to see patients come in unwell and leave stronger. We all play a part in that. We celebrate those wins together and when things are tough, we’re always checking in on each other.”
Night shifts bring a different kind of pressure, as there are fewer clinicians on site.
“It’s quieter,” said Daliya Joseph, staff nurse. “But the care continues. We’re constantly planning, assessing and watching over our patients. And we really rely on each other for support and expertise if a challenge arises, if someone needs help, we’re there.”
That strong sense of teamwork is especially important at night. “You never really know what’s coming through the door,” said Chigozirim. “It could be a new patient from acute care at 10pm. But we’re ready, and we face it together.”
The night shift also gives nurses a different insight into patient care. “You see a different side of people,” she added. “You get a clearer picture of how they’ll manage on their own. We talk about that together as a team, it helps us plan better care.”
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