In early summer, the ancient capital of Jinling is lush with verdant foliage. On the afternoon of May 7, 2026, the 115th celebration of International Nurses Day—May 12—was solemnly held in the Academic Lecture Hall on the fifth floor of the Jiangning Campus of Nanjing Zijin Hospital. The event was chaired by Ye Xianghong, Director of the Nursing Department, bringing together all non‑shift nursing staff from across the hospital to carry forward the spirit of Florence Nightingale, pay tribute to those who steadfastly uphold their duties in white coats, and jointly partake in this glorious occasion dedicated to the nursing profession.

Empowerment fuels growth, and unity paves the way to the future.

　　President Ge Jiangping of Nanjing Zijin Hospital delivered a speech at the conference. She began by extending, on behalf of the hospital’s leadership team, heartfelt holiday greetings to all nursing colleagues across the institution.

　　Dean Ge stated that Nanjing Zijin Hospital, which began in 1987 as a cerebrovascular rehabilitation center, has grown over 39 years of dedicated effort into Jiangsu Province’s and Nanjing City’s first privately‑run, tertiary‑level rehabilitation hospital. The hospital has deeply cultivated critical‑care rehabilitation fields such as brain resuscitation, spinal cord injury, and ischemic–hypoxic encephalopathy, having treated nearly one million patients to date. This remarkable record of achievement is the result of the tireless dedication and selfless commitment of every member of the nursing staff. Each milestone in the hospital’s development—obtaining CARF international accreditation, earning AAA and five‑star ratings in national industry assessments, and witnessing the vigorous growth of six specialized rehabilitation sub‑disciplines—is etched with the hard work and wisdom of all our nursing colleagues. You are the “torchbearers” on the path of rehabilitation, the guardians of life, the sowers of hope, the most cherished members of this hospital, and the people whom patients trust most.

　　Centering on this year’s core theme, “Empowering Nurses, Safeguarding Lives,” Dean Ge articulated three earnest expectations for all nursing colleagues:

1. Empower through expertise and hone the “hard skills” of rehabilitation nursing. Staying at the forefront of medical innovation, we deeply cultivate specialized fields such as critical care rehabilitation and neurological rehabilitation, rigorously hone our expert nursing skills, and establish Zijin Rehabilitation Nursing as a professional benchmark.

2. Empower care services with a humanistic approach to enhance their warmth and compassion. We have embedded the patient-centered philosophy into our very essence, ensuring that our nursing care combines technical precision with heartfelt compassion, so that patients feel the warmth of home as they journey toward recovery.

3. Empower through collaboration and unite the team to build cohesive “centripetal force.” Working closely with physicians, rehabilitation therapists, and the logistics team, we break down silos, collaborate seamlessly, and unite in spirit to overcome one challenge after another on the road to recovery.

Showcasing expertise through professional exhibitions, and warming hearts with education and outreach.

　　The finals of the Big Health Education Scenario Simulation Competition were hosted by Zhang Yanyan from the Nursing Department. Since the competition was launched in March, all clinical wards, the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Unit, and outpatient departments across the hospital have responded enthusiastically and participated actively.

　　Each participating team, closely aligned with our hospital’s specialized strengths in critical care rehabilitation, neurological rehabilitation, and spinal cord injury rehabilitation, brought authentic clinical health‑education scenarios to the stage. Using situational dramas as a medium, they transformed rigorous, evidence‑based nursing knowledge into accessible, engaging, and practical health guides—demonstrating the exceptional expertise of Zijin nurses while conveying the humanistic warmth of a patient‑centered approach.

　　Following fierce competition in the preliminary round, six outstanding teams emerged to take the stage in the finals. The judging panel conducted a professional evaluation across multiple dimensions, including content accuracy, scene fidelity, communication skills, team collaboration, and the practicality of educational outreach. Ultimately, Vice President Wang Yifang announced the list of winners:

First Prize

Ward 205

“Five Simple Mnemonics to Keep in Mind: Ensuring Safe Stroke Rehabilitation”

Hong Xingyu, Liu Sulan, Tang Gaoqiang

Second Prize

Ward 102

“Dance of the Prone: Hypoxia Showdown”

Xu Xiaomiao, Tian Feng, Chen Kexin, Xu Ziying

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Department

“Oxygen” — No Bargaining, Stay Calm Inside the Cabin!

Chen Sisi, Ge Shuangshuang, Wang Dandan, Zhang Guixia

Third Prize

Jiangning HDU

“Drink Freely, Swallow Safely”

Wang Ying, Chen Ya, Zhu Chen

Ward 204

“Get Moving to Prevent Blood Clots”

Wen Chengcheng, Deng Jiaojiao, Sun Xiangxiang

Ward 202

“Little Orange’s Discharge: A ‘Graduation Ceremony’”

Wang Jiamai, Li Xu

Set an example to set the standard, and forge greatness through unwavering dedication.

　　Showcasing excellence on the field, reaffirming our original aspirations at our posts. During the highly anticipated awards ceremony, Executive Vice President Gao Zhiqiang read out the decision to honor outstanding nurses for the 2026 fiscal year.

　　In this year’s Outstanding Nurse selection process, following democratic nominations at the department level, eligibility reviews, and a comprehensive hospital‑wide evaluation, 14 “Outstanding Nurses of 2026” were ultimately chosen from among the frontline nursing staff across the entire hospital.

　　Among them are guardians who steadfastly uphold the line of life in the sealed confines of hyperbaric oxygen chambers; companions who, day after day in the wards, stand by patients as they recover and sow hope; and dedicated practitioners who have deepened their expertise in specialized nursing, honing skills that are both rigorous and reliable. In their ordinary roles, they write an extraordinary chapter of nursing through professionalism, patience, and passion, serving as outstanding role models for all nurses at Zijin.

　　For 39 years, the dedicated nursing professionals of Zijin have remained steadfast in upholding Florence Nightingale’s vow, wielding professionalism as their shield and passion as their guiding light. On the path of critical care and rehabilitation, they press forward without pause, illuminating the hope of renewal for countless patients and their families.
　　To every white-clad angel, we say: Happy holiday! May your eyes always hold the stars, your heart the warmth of the sun, and may you live up to the beauty of your youth as you stride forward in pursuit of the light!