SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Among all the things nurses bring to a patient’s bedside, it is not the medicines or monitoring tools that carry the most weight. It is the reassurance of a smile, a listening ear, and the words of comfort. Nurses in the UAE say it is this human connection that defines their vocation.
On International Nurses Day, marked every May 12, they reflect on their calling and what it means to show up for every shift, every day.
For Khuloud Khudoum Alzaabi, being a nurse is “being present during patients’ most delicate moments”.
She said working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) — caring for premature babies and their families — taught her “the true meaning of hope”.
“I walk alongside our tiny warriors from their most fragile beginnings, sharing with families their moments of fear, prayers, strength, and finally witnessing them reach beautiful milestones,” Alzaabi told Aletihad.
Shamma Alshamsi, Staff Nurse for Endoscopy and Procedures at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said she is proud of her work — an integral part of the care team, “supporting patients through some of their most vulnerable moments”.
“Even the smallest gestures — from calmly explaining a symptom to offering a few words of comfort — can make a meaningful difference in helping patients feel safe,” said Alshamsi, who started her career in 2020, the year of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.
Jonathan Medina Tamundong, Director of Nursing at Response Plus Medical, described nursing as both “a calling and an honour”. “A healing hand is a gift. Healing wounds and helping the needy feel better are my motivations,” Tamundong said.
Similarly for Divya N.C., Nursing Supervisor at Response Plus Medical, nursing evokes a deep sense of purpose. She said her early years in neurosurgery ICU strengthened her resilience, clinical judgment, and compassion while caring for patients requiring close monitoring and complex care.
“Each day brought both meaningful successes and emotional challenges,” she said. “Today, I do not just practise nursing; I embody it with pride, purpose, and unwavering commitment to every life I touch.”
International Nurses Day is a way to express appreciation and respect for nurses and their humanitarian role in healthcare and community wellbeing, said Fatima Al-Amiri, a nurse at Kalba Hospital.
“Nurses work with sincerity and patience to provide healthcare and alleviate patients’ suffering,” she said, adding that they deserve recognition for their sacrifices and dedication.
Amna Al-Amiri, who works at a government clinic, highlighted the compassion and humanity that define the nursing profession. She described nurses as “angels” and “a balm that eases pain and heals the wounds of the soul before those of the body”, emphasising the emotional and psychological support they provide in addition to medical care.