On International Nurses Day today (May 12), Rand Aid Association nursing staff reflect on the evolving demands of elder care – a profession they say requires a delicate balance of clinical expertise and emotional presence.
The global event honours Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. This year’s theme, Our nurses. Our future. Empowered nurses save lives, underscores the critical role these professionals play in navigating increasingly complex healthcare challenges within retirement and care settings.
A calling rooted in compassion
For Thornhill Manor retirement village sister Joanne Bosman, nursing is defined by human connection.
“A pulse taken is a moment shared,” she says. “The reassuring touch of a nurse to a patient leads to a connection beyond the assessment of status and a nursing plan to be implemented.”
She adds that her nursing hero, Edith Cavell, a British nurse renowned for her humanitarian work during World War I, inspired her belief in ‘absolute compassion and humanity’ and a commitment to protecting dignity above all else.
At Thembalami Care Centre, nursing services manager Violet Ngobeni describes nursing as a calling that blends ‘a compassionate heart with an intelligent mind’, ensuring residents feel heard and supported even in their most difficult moments.
Lessons from older residents
Working closely with older people has left a lasting impact on many nurses.
At Ron Smith Care Centre (RSCC), nursing services manager Leanie Bessinger says the role had reshaped her understanding of dignity and resilience.
“Our residents have shown me that resilience doesn’t always look loud or dramatic – it’s often quiet strength,” she explains. “Many have faced loss, illness and major life changes, yet they continue to show courage.”
For Leanie, the drive to be a nurse is deeply personal, rooted in a family loss that shaped her high standards for patient care. “I wanted to make sure that no one has to go through what my family did,” she explains. “What keeps me motivated is the knowledge that even the smallest interaction can change a person’s experience for the better.”
At Thembalami Care Centre, professional nurse Kholo Mathye says the experience has been equally humbling.
“Working with older residents has taught me to appreciate life,” she says. “It has made me more patient, compassionate and present in my interactions.”
Presence in life’s most vulnerable moments
For many nurses, some of the most meaningful work happens in moments of deep vulnerability.
Leanie described sitting with residents at the end of life as one of the most profound aspects of her work.
“Just holding their hand, being present, and ensuring they are not alone when no family is present,” she says.
Christine Kasanda of RSCC echoed this sense of emotional responsibility, noting that frail care nursing requires both empathy and resilience.
“The pain and death I have witnessed have deepened my compassion,” she says. “I have learnt to find meaning in small comforts.”
Protecting dignity and well-being
At Elphin Lodge retirement village, professional nurse Catherine Dube highlights the growing concern of financial abuse among older residents.
She explained that scams – often involving strangers, caregivers or even family members – can have a severe emotional impact.
“When this happens, residents lose trust and can become depressed,” she says. “We try to keep them alert and encourage them to speak up about anything suspicious.”
What nursing means today
Despite the emotional demands, nurses across Rand Aid describe their profession as deeply meaningful.
Leanie says the motivation often lies in small but significant moments of care that leave a lasting impact.
For Christine, nursing has also shaped how she views ageing and independence. “It has made me value dignity more and think differently about my own old age.” Across all reflections, a shared message emerges – nursing is not only about treatment, but about standing beside people through some of life’s most fragile and human moments.
