The Rehman Medical Institute and Rehman College of Nursing (RCN) marked International Nurses Day on May 22 with a ceremony that underscored a growing consensus among global healthcare leaders: stabilizing the nursing workforce is increasingly vital to broader economic resilience.
The event, organized under the global theme “Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies,” brought together healthcare administrators, educators and families to mark the institution’s 18th year of training healthcare professionals in the region.
Principal RCN said there is a shortage of nurses across the world and that graduates of RCN are increasingly being recruited by healthcare systems in the United Kingdom and the Gulf states, alongside hospitals in Pakistan.
The proceedings included a traditional lamp-lighting ritual, a long-standing symbolic gesture in the profession representing healing and clinical dedication, followed by an oath-taking ceremony for the incoming class of nursing students.
Addressing the ceremony, Principal RCN Prof. Dr. Aurangzeb noted that the demands of modern healthcare require resilience and commitment. He said there is a shortage of nurses across the world and that graduates of RCN are increasingly being recruited by healthcare systems in the United Kingdom and the Gulf states, alongside hospitals in Pakistan.
Nurses are the backbone of any healthcare system. No hospital can function, no patient can be truly cared for, and no healing can be complete without their compassion, vigilance, and dedication. They stand at the frontline of care, turning knowledge into comfort and treatment into hope,”
Prof. Emeritus Dr. Tariq Saeed Mufti said while addressing the ceremony.
The ceremony was attended by prominent healthcare officials, including CEO RMI Shafique Ur Rehman; Director RCN Seelay Srak Rehman; and Dr. Mehar Taj Roghani, a physician and former provincial public office-holder. Principals of other nursing colleges in Peshawar also attended the ceremony.
Speakers highlighted that nurses are the backbone of healthcare systems, stressing that true recognition must go beyond words and be reflected in stronger training, leadership pathways and sustained institutional support.
