International Nurses Day is a really

wonderful way to celebrate and think

about the way that we've connected with

people over the previous 12 months. You'd be

really challenged to find somebody who

hasn't been touched or had the impact of

nursing care for themselves or for one

of their loved ones. So I think don't

think we can underestimate the reach

that we have and the ability that we

have to connect with other human beings

This is across the state, we make a huge

difference to patients and their

families and it's not just on

International Nurses Day it's every

single day of the year we're at the

front line and we're in very diverse

settings and we interact with people in

all sorts of different ways. I think we

actually underestimate the huge power

that we have to provide care and

compassion to other people. And often

these little small things and we might

do for someone, the support that we

provide, that kind of word, the touch of a

hand and that human connection that we

have when we deliver care. It's really

important for nurses to celebrate

International Nurses Day because it

provides us with an opportunity to stand

still, take a breath and reflect on the

year that's been and really think about

the remarkable contribution that we've

made as nurses to the well-being of not

only of the patients and families that

we care for, our communities and each

other, in a way that we actually come

together to deliver care. My message to

nurses this year is firstly to say thank

you for the huge contribution that they

make each and every day. My other message

is actually to take time as I said to

reflect on the fantastic job that you do

and the difference that you make to

people and I'll also ask you all to take a

deep breath have a look around and think

about some of the people that you've

worked with who have made a real

difference.

So wishing all the nurses of New South

Wales are fabulous 2019 International

Nurses Day

[Music]