Dedication, empathy and compassion for patients are all important core values The Wesley Hospital nurses know all too well.

The hospital’s nurses were celebrated on Thursday, May 12 for their hard work caring for patients throughout the year, as part of International Nurses Day.

The Wesley Hospital Director of Nursing Callan Battley and the nursing executive team delivered 45 cheesecakes to 45 wards to celebrate the nurses’ contribution to the hospital.

The annual international celebration of nursing marks the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth and pays tribute to the profession and the significant contribution of nurses worldwide.

Mr Battley said Wesley’s selfless nurses deserved acknowledgement of all their hard work and commitment throughout the year.

 “It’s a good time for us to stop and reflect on all the hard work that’s been done throughout the year, and to celebrate and acknowledge the unique role that nurses play in healthcare.”

While the working environment throughout the years had changed dramatically, requiring nurses to become more technically skilled in each individual area, the core values of the job had not.

“Seventy per cent of a patient’s experience in hospital is related to a nurse.

“Patients are requiring more and more of what we would class as traditional nursing attributes, such as great care, compassion and empathy, as well as specialised skills, professionalism, and a great capacity to work together.”

The nursing executive team also donated $1500 to the Helena Goldie Project, a UnitingCare Health initiative which raises funds for students at the Helena Goldie College of Nursing in the Solomon Islands.

Pictured: The Wesley Hospital Director Of Nursing Callan Battley delivers a cheesecake to the nurses on the orthopaedic ward.