Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, has issued the following statement in recognition of National Nursing Week, May 8-14, 2023:

“This week, we honour nurses in British Columbia, their hard work and courageous commitment to care. Nurses play a critical role in providing quality and compassionate health care through unwavering dedication to all the people they serve. This week is a time to show our appreciation for the nurses that keep our communities and loved ones safe and healthy.

“The theme of this year’s National Nursing Week is ‘Our Nurses. Our Future.’ It highlights the many roles nurses play in a patient’s health-care journey.

“The Province continues to support nurses in B.C. by delivering new and expanded mental-health services, incorporating reconciliation and cultural safety into the workplace, making it easier for internationally educated nurses to work in B.C. and adding new nursing seats to public post-secondary institutions throughout the province and many other actions, as outlined in B.C.’s Health Human Resources Strategy.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the crucial role of front-line workers in our health-care system as they continue to work attentively to care for patients. I want to acknowledge the incredible work nurses are doing to keep our communities safe as it has enabled us to lift universal masking of health-care workers and visitors in common and non-clinical areas within health-care facilities. And we have committed to lifting these measures at the end of every annual respiratory season.

“Nurses are employed in diverse environments spanning clinical practice, education, administration and research. They work in hospitals, primary-care offices, long-term care homes, public health, schools, universities, correctional facilities, government, private companies and the armed forces.

“I also want to recognize that April 10 was Indigenous Nurses Day, and celebrate the First Nations, Métis and Inuit nurses throughout the province who are dedicated to meeting the needs of Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities alike.

“On behalf of the provincial government, please join me in thanking nurses for their expertise and ongoing commitment to care.”