NURSES are privileged to be able to assist patients and their families through difficult situations, a senior nurse says.
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Port Macquarie Base Hospital deputy director of nursing and midwifery Alan Pretty said nurses worked hard and had a rewarding career in return.
The hospital celebrated nurses' contributions during a barbecue yesterday to mark International Nurses' Day.
Mr Pretty said International Nurses' Day was the best celebration of the year.
"It's about being able to put away the hard work and come out and celebrate the good work that we do," he said.
"We can do it together as a group."
Port Macquarie Base Hospital's nurses received appreciation bags, including drink bottles and vouchers, with the support of businesses.
Mr Pretty joined the Port Macquarie Base Hospital team a decade ago as the emergency department nurse unit manager and is now the deputy director of nursing and midwifery.
"For a male, there is the stereotype associated with male nursing but it's not like that at all," he said.
"If you're non-judgmental and flexible, nursing offers a wide range of career opportunities from clinical nursing, critical care nursing, midwifery, and community and public health," he said.
Mr Pretty's career started as a cleaner in a nursing home, then he became an assistant in nursing, enrolled nurse and registered nurse.
Mr Pretty emphasised the importance of the team effort.
"Everybody that works in a hospital is equally contributing to the outcome of the patients," he said.
International Nurses' Day is celebrated on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth.
This year's theme was nurses: a force for change.
Port Macquarie Base Hospital has more than 550 nurses.
