International Nurses Day and International Day of the Midwife are usually celebrated separately on May 12 and 5 respectively, however, Katherine Hospital staff thought it would be more appropriate to celebrate the two together. 

Katherine region Top End Health Service general manager Angela Brannelly said that given how much of the work the nurses and midwives did was collaborative, it made sense to celebrate both days at once.

“It’s not just about nurses and midwives; it’s about the staff as a team celebrating both days,” she said.

“It is about partnership and it’s very important that everyone is in it together.

“It’s about acknowledging the contribution both of the professions make to health service delivery.”

Registered nurse Charis Parks said she was happy to see so many people come out to celebrate with lunch. 

“We are constantly together in very professional, often-stressful situations, so why not come together in a more lighthearted situation as well?” she said.

“It is also a recognition of Florence Nightingale and her contributions to nursing, and it is very much about how we work together.”