A statement from the President of RCSI, Mr Kenneth Mealy:

Today, we celebrate International Day of the Nurse.

Each and every day of my practice as a surgeon, I work in partnership with a team of healthcare professionals at the centre of which is always a nurse. The education of nurses in Ireland is of the highest standard globally and entry to this noble profession requires strong academic achievement and diligence. There isn’t a single episode of patient care that would be possible without the hard work of a community of nurses and our patients’ outcomes and experiences are all the better because of the quality of the care they provide.

More than ever, the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the centrality of nurse  to patient care. I commend each of you for your professionalism and tenacious dedication to patient care.

Thank you for your commitment.