The Florence Nightingale Medal is the highest international Red Cross honour that can be awarded to a nurse. It honours nurses or nursing aids who have worked as international delegates and shown exceptional courage and a devotion to victims of armed conflict or natural disaster. Nurses who have distinguished themselves in times of peace or war by showing exceptional courage and devotion to the wounded, sick or disabled or to civilian victims of conflict or disaster.
It is awarded two yearly to nurses who demonstrate outstanding service and a pioneering spirit in the areas of public health and nursing education. Only 50 Florence Nightingale medals are awarded internationally every two years.
The list of the New Zealand nurses who have received recognition includes:
Nurses have been deployed to the following conflict zones. These nurses have done many missions over many years- exceptional service.
These exceptional nurses have been described of their experience or described by others the following:
exceptional courage and devotion to the victims of armed conflict or natural disaster.
calm under fire
true humanitarian
great courage and compassion
huge satisfaction from her work, and had always worked to help others, without seeking recognition
the dream that "one day they won’t need you" because conflict zones would be replaced by "world peace
able to more fully appreciate the extent of the damage inflicted on civilians who were not officially part of the fighting, including farmers who could not work their land because of landmine risks.
civilians faced constant anxieties- worried about their children
Working in this environment is challenging, heartbreaking and frustrating but also incredibly rewarding
the people I have worked with and met make this more than a job
flexible, skilled and effective in clinic management, preventive health intervention, first aid training, and monitoring the health of people in detention and programme management
remotely managing healthcare facilities and mobile teams, assignments that presented extensive challenges due to sheer size and the ongoing conflict and clan-based issues on the ground
dedicated and highly skilled nurse who is committed to helping vulnerable populations
compassion and courage while working in extremely complex and difficult situations
an inspiration
working under mortar fire
encountered and dealt with all manner of diseases, war wounds, road accident traumas, snake bites and broken limbs
attended suicides and murders; Ebola treatment centre
delivered babies
common-sense approach
ability to work with limited resources
ability to gain respect from all the different parties
I get just as much back from it as I give
readily embraced danger and hardship in the hope of helping and improving humankind
choosing challenge over comfort and adopting a “why not?” attitude when deciding whether to work in some of the world’s most inhospitable places
I'm just doing my job and I feel privileged to be part of a team trying to provide the basics of healthcare to those affected by conflict
working in this environment is challenging, heartbreaking and frustrating but also incredibly rewarding
tough, but also incredibly kind and humble
exceptional interpersonal skills, culturally safe
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