International Nurses Day 2026: How our nurses feel empowered in their roles
This International Nurses Day 2026, we’re celebrating empowerment and recognising the nurses who strengthen our workforce, enrich our culture, and make a difference for our service users and communities every day.
We spoke to some of our nurses who told us what empowerment means to them from identity and belonging, to career growth and progression. They shared the values that guide their practice and the life-changing impact of working within mental health nursing.
Creating spaces that recognise culture and identity
Empowerment starts with creating workplaces where people feel safe to be themselves, where culture is recognised, identity is valued and people feel they truly belong.
Onisa Ahmed, Associate Clinical Director described how culture can help to build connection and change relationships at work. She said: “I have so much appreciation for how culture can bring people together and how it can help to flatten hierarchies. My team really helped me hold on to my identity and be proud of who I am.”
Onisa Ahmed, Associate Clinical Director
Matron, Mariama Jalloh shared how belonging shows up in everyday experiences during her demanding role at River House. “You feel at home, you feel comfortable and the support is there. I’ve received massive support in terms of practising my religion and everyone from consultants and managers to co-workers have been very supportive,” she said.
Personal growth and empowering others to develop
For many of our workforce, empowerment also means being supported to grow through opportunity, development, and encouragement.
Denis Muganga, Deputy Head of Nursing and Quality shared how his time at the trust has been an empowering journey for both his personal development and the development of those around him. He said: “Working here has challenged me and I use that to try and develop someone in whatever role they are in to get the best of their experience. It’s like a blessing to see the seed that you sow growing and growing beautifully. It’s one of the parts of my job I most enjoy.”
Denis Muganga, Deputy Head of Nursing
Finding a role that connects to your values
Despite how demanding the job is, nursing is a caring profession that many feel aligns with their values and beliefs such as compassion, kindness and faith.
Lucy Phiri, Deputy Head of Nursing joined the profession as she felt it was a perfect fit for her kind, caring and compassionate nature. Her personal experience of supporting her grandmother’s journey with dementia encouraged her decision to become a nurse.
Lucy Phiri, Deputy Head of Nursing
For Clinical Nurse Specialist Hazel Muchirachondo, she feels that her role supports her faith and personal values. She said: “I’m a Christian and for me it’s about making a difference in people’s lives and giving back to the community where possible.”
Hazel Muchirahondo, Clinical Nurse Specialist
The impact of supporting recovery and life outcomes
Our nursing workforce helps to create spaces for our service users that support recovery, stability and better longer-term outcomes for those facing mental ill health.
Joyce Mutabeni, Team Manager said: “We do so much more beyond the day-to-day care of our patients. We help people find jobs, find homes, find structure – and that’s what helps people’s mental health. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing someone come to you in distress and leave with a better relationship with themselves, their families and everything in their lives.”
We spoke to our nursing colleagues about what empowers them at work. Watch the video below
