Xi'an nurse wins Florence Nightingale Medal

Zhang Yulian, the Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital's chief superintendent nurse, won the 50th Florence Nightingale Medal for the 114th International Nurses' Day on May 12, becoming the only person in Northwest China's Shaanxi province to receive this honor, the highest in the international nursing field.

For a long time, nursing work has been influenced by traditional concepts, resulting in low social recognition and remuneration. This, in turn, leads to instability and negatively impacts the quality of nursing care. Since 2010, Zhang Yulian, then the director of the nursing department, has established a moderate work mode and incentive mechanism for nurses to reduce their workload.

Zhang is also striving to establish an annual nursing research fund of 500,000 yuan ($69,439) to support scientific research projects. She has won multiple awards, including the Shaanxi Science and Technology Award, the Nursing Management Innovation Award, and the China Hospital Management Award.

In November 2020, Zhang led the establishment of the Shaanxi Nursing Association and Shaanxi Clinical Nursing Federation, committing to improving nursing services and the academic level of 369 member units.

Zhang's 37-year nursing career is a touching story. She interprets the spirit of Florence Nightingale through her actions and becomes a beacon that guides the journey of patients' lives. After winning the medal, she said, "I just did what I should have done. This is not an honor for me; it belongs to all the colleagues who stick to their nursing positions. I will continue to be that beacon and help more patients in their lives."