Online Reporter
Mthokozisi Ncube
NURSES spend their lives caring for others — but who cares for them? That was the key message during a reflective workshop at Ingutsheni Hospital in Bulawayo where retired and practising nurses were reminded that genuine compassion begins with self-care.
The session, themed “Caring for yourself whilst caring for others,” was organised by the Bulawayo Retired Nurses Fellowship and facilitated by South Africa-based palliative care specialist Dr Raksha Balbadhur. It was hosted by the Brahma Kumaris organisation.
Dr Balbadhur told participants that self-care was not a luxury but a professional necessity.
“Nurses often practise compassion but forget that real compassion starts with self-compassion. One cannot pour from an empty cup,” she said.
Through relaxation and mindfulness exercises, nurses were urged to reconnect with their purpose and rediscover the inner values that first inspired them to join the profession.
Bulawayo Retired Nurses Fellowship president, Linda Moyo, said the workshop tied in with their motto, “We are retired but not tired.”
“We still have a lot to contribute to our communities,” she said. “This workshop was an eye-opener. We need to get more involved in these kinds of exercises so that we can also share them with the communities we serve.”
Moyo added that the Fellowship aims to bridge the gap between generations of nurses by passing on experience and values to those still in uniform.
Ingutsheni Central Hospital Principal Nursing Officer, Sarah Goma, hailed the partnership.
“We are thankful for our relationship with the retired nurses of Bulawayo. They still come and support us and remember where they came from. Through this workshop, we learned new ways of delivering nursing care, including meditation and relaxation techniques,” she said.
Londile Moyo