For the first time in the Western Cape the Deans of Nursing Programmes at all four major universities will be joining forces for International Nurses Day.

Deans from University of the Western Cape, University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University and CPUT Health and Sciences faculties will meet at CPUT’s Bellville Campus to address nurses from across the private and public sectors on May 12.

Nurses will network, reaffirm their pledge and light the lamp which symbolises their dedication to nursing, tell stories about their careers and be addressed by the ex-matron of a big city hospital.

International Nursing Day commemorates the birthday of one of the most famous nurses in history - Florence Nightingale.

CPUT’s Dr Hilda Vember says the theme is "Nurses - A force for change - A vital resource for health".

The collaborative effort is hopefully the first of many more events of this nature.

“We decided to collaborate as we are always talking about doing projects together, but up till now, we have not done so. We are so fortunate in the Western Cape that all four universities are in close proximity to each other, unlike our counterparts in the other provinces. So this will be a first, but hopefully it would be the beginning of collaboration amongst all four institutions,” says Vember.

Written by Lauren Kansley
Tel: +27 21 953 8646
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Liaises with the media and writes press releases about interesting developments at CPUT.

FOUR CPUT staff members are celebrating an extra special International Nurses Day today after being inducted into the Honour Society of Nursing.

The four staff members - Dr Theresa Bock, Dr Anso Truter, Dr Evalina van Wijk and Chantal Settley- were among eight new members inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI society during an event hosted by CPUT at the Bellville Campus.

Four staff members from the University of the Western Cape were also inducted.

STTI provides nurses with resources and opportunities to engage with other nursing leaders and develop their professional and leadership skills.

Membership is by invitation to baccalaureate and graduate nursing students who demonstrate excellence in scholarship and to mentor leaders exhibiting exceptional achievements in nursing.

The society has more than 135 000 members in more than 90 countries.

Settley, a nursing educator, said she was honoured to be one of the inductees.

“I see it as an opportunity for professional development and to learn and grow.”

The event also celebrated International Nurses Day, which is held on May 12 every year, and marks the contribution nurses make to society.

Professor Karien Jooste, Head of the Department of Nursing Science at CPUT, said the event showed how nursing colleagues at the Western Cape’s four major tertiary institutions were working together to the benefit of the nursing profession.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The contribution nurses make to society was celebrated during an International Nurses Day event held at the Western Cape College of Nursing in Athlone.

The day is celebrated around the world on May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birthday.

This year’s theme was Nurses: A voice to lead - Health is a Human Right.

Students and staff members from CPUT’s Nursing Sciences Department were among the guests at the event, which was addressed by Dr Nomafrench Mbombo, the provincial Minister of Health.

She said many nurses were going out of their way for their patients.

“Today I want to acknowledge those people. Today I want to say that as the leaders, as the employers, we understand your situation.”

She added: “Let’s remember Florence Nightingale and what she stood for. Let’s remember that we are nurses and that we are the voice to lead.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.