Nurses around the world were celebrated yesterday as part of International Nurses Day.

After the world COVID pandemic for the past couple of years, it’s become abundantly clear how important their dedication to caring of others is.

This year’s theme is “Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Invest in Nursing and respect rights to secure global health.”

We put the spotlight on local Registered Nurse Rizza Pagayon from Tennant Creek Hospital’s GP Clinic.

Rizza first trained in a government hospital in the Phillipines, has worked in Brunei and in Perth in Western Australia before relocating to the Territory in 2019.

The 35-year-old said she welcomed locating to a remote area and encourages others in the profession to take on rural or remote jobs because of the numerous opportunities of upskilling their career paths.

When it came to the COVID pandemic, Rizza said it came with it challenges.

“What was probably most noticeable was the shortage of staff which was happening all over the world,” she said.

“It was very stressful and the nursing profession became too busy and nurses were overworked, working longer hours to cover for colleagues were sick.”

Rizza said she loves the community of Tennant Creek, meeting many of her patients in the clinic and during her outreach services. She also takes part in local sports and recreation and attends local fundraising events.

“I believe nursing is the most trusted and respected profession there is where we work enormous hours to make a difference in someone’s life,” she said.

“We should celebrate it more than once a year – we are such a big part of health care.

“Patients are our priority and it has to be what drives you to make the choices on a day-to-day basis.”

International Nurses Day is 12 May each year, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth.

This article appeared in Tennant & District Times, 13 May 2022.