Everybody is aware of the fact that "health is wealth", without health there is not much in one's life. Moreover, the current scenario of COVID-19 pandemic is reinforcing the same, where health care professionals' efforts are highly recognized. International Day of Nurse falls on May 12 and this day is also the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, founder of modern nursing. This year it’s 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale. The theme for this year's celebration is "Nursing the World to Health". Here, we asked few questions to some nurses from Alka Hospital, Lalitpur about their working situation and life in general:

Usha Shrestha, HD Nurse

1. Why did you choose this profession?

I choose this profession because it’s my dream to be a nurse and it’s a respectful profession. I always wanted to serve for humanity and help people who are suffering. I do enjoy serving. Moreover, I prefer to see the smile after being cured or recovery. It was the only aim of my life.

2. What was your expectation and what is the reality of this profession?

Nursing is my profession and so I except to be the best in this field. Globally, the demand for nursing is high and is really good. According to my perception, in the context of Nepal nursing is not that much good in compared to abroad. The workload too is high and salary scale too low ranging from Rs 8,000. It was what I got to observe in reality.

3.During the time of this pandemic, how are you managing to work?

This pandemic COVID-19 has created a very fearful, tough and rough situation all over the world. Life has become very miserable where this disease is killing thousands of people today. So, during this pandemic, as a nurse we are managing our duty and work schedule in alternate way. We work in 12 hours shift per day. Though traveling is difficult, we are getting pick up and drop service.

4. What is the meaning of life for you?

According to my view, life is full of struggle with good, bad, happy, sad, comfort, tough, rough moments. But all our struggle is what make us happy in the future. So, I think we have to take our present in a critical manner to have best future.

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Sarita Puri, Staff Nurse

1. Why did you choose this profession?

Well, I choose this profession because it was my dream to be a nurse. I am so much interested in this field. I love to take care of the patients.

2. What was your expectation and what is the reality of this profession?

As expected this profession is not at all easy but I had my expectations high while studying. Though having high demand of nurses, the bitter truth is we are getting low payments and though qualified we have to do volunteer work for months. So, expectation is very different from the reality.

3.During the time of this pandemic, how are you managing to work?

We are doing our work but due to the lockdown, we are doing 12 hours duty in alternate days.

4. What is the meaning of life for you?

Life is a struggle. If we can survive in any situations, then we can run our life. Even in the times of trouble, if you are able to smile that’s a meaningful life for me. We all have to go through many ups and downs in life, but standing strongly during adversity, is living your life for me.

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Sarita Acharya, ICU Nurse

1. Why did you choose this profession?

Nursing is all about the patient. It's a career that helps you save lives, bring happiness to individuals and their families, and comfort to those in need, while caring for patients, fighting for their life, which can be a challenging experience. Yet, nurses still report a high level of job satisfaction.

2. During the time of this pandemic, how are you managing to work?

COVID 19 is a pandemic disease. To support nurses during this challenging period we've developed a collection of free news and evidence based resources relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic. We all health workers are putting life in the iron gate, but being in this profession, I can't stay at home and I don't want to stay because nurses deserve support from government, their employers and each other to get through this pandemic.

3. What is the meaning of life for you?

Life is a biological concept regarding the characteristics, state, or mode that separates a living thing from dead matter. The study of life is called biology, and people who study life are called biologists. A lifespan is the average length of life in a species.

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Kanchan Tamang, ICU Nurse

1. Why did you choose this profession?

In the Nursing profession, we have to deal with many aspects of it's core, and I enjoy the variety in the routine. Dealing with patient's and their families and helping them through what is often a difficult time for them, it's extremely satisfying for me.

2. What was your expectation and what is the reality of this profession?

Nursing profession is a sensitive field, we have to be more conscious in our work; investing huge amount for study with the expectation of good job and highly salary. But in our country Nepal, especially in private hospitals the reality is bitter.

3. What is the meaning of life for you?

In my view of point, life is full of drama. If you can withstand even during the painful situation then, that's the meaning of life for me.

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Neeti Bayalkoti, ICU Nursing Incharge

1. Why did you choose this profession?

Because there are so many career opportunities where we can explore our knowledge and skills in different field such as hospital (national or international), community as well as INGO/NGO. It was an incredible for career flexibility, so I choose this Nursing profession.

2. What was your expectation and what is the reality of this profession?

Nursing profession in reality is totally different. Nurses are facing trouble with salary scale, other facilities and more.

3.During the time of this pandemic, how are you managing to work?

On this Pandemic COVID-19, we all health professionals are having a difficult situation to manage work. But our organization, we health profession working for 12 hours with full protection using PPE set for COVID-19 cases. We are picked and dropped to home by our hospital vehicle.

4. What is the meaning of life for you?

Life is precious so how we handle ourselves, our life depends on them.