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International Nurses Day: thumb up for the Coronavirus heroes

2020-05-12

Tuesday 12 May is International Nurses Day and a day of celebration for nurses across the world.

It is the time to salute the “lady with the lamp”, Florence Nightingale – who was born 200 years ago tomorrow– and to show our appreciation of today’s heroes, the nurses who have been working long, arduous shifts on the coronavirus front line.

As President XI Jinping offered his thanks to the “incredible staff” during the pandemic on this special day, we also speak to nurses from the University affiliated hospitals who tell of battling the virus...

MA Qingna, an ICU nurse of the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine

The 27-year-old is the youngest one in the first batch of Zhejiang medics team in support of Wuhan. MA was a student in the elementary school in the outbreak of SARS 17 years ago. Since then she holds deep respect to medical professionals. She says: “My life changed so rapidly but nursing is what I want to do and I’m not one to panic, so just threw myself into this job.”

TAO Liyuan, a CCU nurse of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital,School of Medicine

She went to Wuhan to support Union Oncology Center on Feb. 14. “I have looked after some patients who are awake and on oxygen, and we are trying to keep them off the ventilators.” “It is scary for them as they are struggling to breathe, and it’s emotionally draining for the nurses having to care for them and keep in touch with their families.”“It was so rewarding to see how our work has helped them to get better.”

LU Junqian, a nurse of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine

“With PPE on, I feel a sense of responsibility as the patients need me.” “It is difficult when patients get very sick.”"The whole team has stood alongside each other at times like this.”

On this International Nurses Day let’s come together and thank our frontline workers who are fighting for us the biggest pandemic of recent times.