Inspiring women in nursing by Jeni Caguioa, Senior Clinical Manager at NHS England.

I have been in nursing for over three decades and I have had various roles across the NHS over the last 25 years since coming from the Philippines. In celebrating, International Women’s Day, I would like to share my reflections and acknowledge our strong women in the nursing profession. Did you know that 89% of nurses in the UK are female? I pay tribute to women who chose nursing as their career and who continue to pursue their passion to provide the best care for our patients. They are inspirational women who are juggling both their professional and family life as wife, mother, daughter and homemaker along with multifaceted roles that they do within their communities.

I am inspired by women colleagues and mentors who have guided me along the way to become the person I am now. Their wisdom and acknowledged vulnerabilities have shaped my mindset through the years as an internationally educated nurse. What others may not realise is that we have our own inner struggles. Women have to make active choices: to become a nurse, to leave our home country, to  be married or not, to have children or not. When one decides to be a mother, she goes on maternity leave. There are sacrifices that a new mother must make: such as to take a step back from their careers because of childcare responsibilities, sometimes even having to choose between going for a dream job or further studies OR staying in the same role until the children are grown. I believe that success is not just measured in so much as how senior you are in the career ladder but on how you demonstrate that balance in your life, your feminine leadership and espoused values wherever you are, be it at home, at work or in the community.

Women in nursing are incredible masters of multitasking who are able to amazingly manage their family life and still show up at work: brave, resilient and ready to take on another shift in the hospital following an exhausting day from home. They continue to do what they do despite challenging conditions, never losing their sense of purpose, and it is because they care!

And for those women who feel like they are juggling too much, but have high ambitions, keep pursuing your dreams, everything happens at the right time. Only you will know what the priority at this moment in your life is. A very wise senior female nurse leader once said to me, “Embrace your authentic self, believe that when the time is right, the opportunities also come along, and it is in your power to choose which one is right for you.”

Happy International Women’s Day!