Congratulations on receiving this international honor! 94 Year Old Chinese Nurse Award | Zhang Jinyuan | International
Recently, at the International Nurses Association Conference held in Montreal, Canada, 94 year old Chinese nurse Zhang Jinyuan was awarded the 2023 International Achievement Award, which is one of the most prestigious awards in the global nursing and health fields. This is the first time a Chinese person has received this award.
Having worked in clinical nursing for over 40 years, what kind of work experience has Zhang Jinyuan gained recognition for? What touching stories are behind this award?
She has created multiple clinical nursing techniques
He is the first Chinese person to win the International Achievement Award
On July 2nd, Beijing time, at the International Nurses Association Conference in Montreal, Canada, Zhang Jinyuan was spirited and giving a video speech.
"At the age of 94, I am delighted with this prosperous era. I will continue to work hard, working hand in hand with 5.2 million Chinese nurses and over 20 million nursing colleagues worldwide, to dedicate my life to safeguarding global human health and building a community of human health. Once again, I would like to thank the judges and all those who support me. Thank you all!"
She is 94 years old this year and has just received the 2023 International Achievement Award from the International Nurses Association and the Nightingale Foundation.
Having worked in clinical nursing for over 40 years, Zhang Jinyuan has created multiple clinical nursing technologies that have benefited countless patients. After retirement, she pioneered the community volunteer service model, extending nursing professional practice to the community, and her cumulative volunteer service time reached 26000 hours.
A few months ago, when she learned that she had won the 2023 International Achievement Award, Zhang Jinyuan was very proud. "I am a Chinese nurse, and being able to represent 5.2 million nursing colleagues to go global and contribute to human health is the happiest thing for me."
She travels the streets and delves into the community
Still active at the forefront of volunteer service at the age of 94
Nowadays, Zhang Jinyuan is still active in the front line of volunteer service. In recent days, the temperature in Nanchang, Jiangxi has reached as high as 35 ℃. Upon learning that patient Yang Yuzhen is at home, Zhang Jinyuan insists on providing volunteer services for free clinics at home.
Yang Yuzhen is an 89 year old elderly person living alone in an old community without elevators. Every time she comes to a free clinic, Zhang Jinyuan has to climb up the fourth floor. If her legs are not agile, she leans on a cane and walks 164 steps back and forth.
Entering Yang Yuzhen's home, Zhang Jinyuan and the nurses of the Love and Dedication Team were busy. Every routine examination for the elderly, including blood pressure measurement, pulse measurement, blood sugar measurement, etc., Zhang Jinyuan carefully inquired about it.
Yang Yuzhen was deeply moved by this. "The team comes every Saturday, and at such an old age, I am deeply moved to ask questions."
Wearing a nurse's hat and wearing a white camisole, whether it's windy, rainy, cold, or hot winter, Zhang Jinyuan will lead her team to carry out volunteer services, walking through the streets and deep into the community, providing free nursing services and health counseling to disadvantaged groups.
She led nearly 20000 volunteers to participate
Enable elderly people to enjoy professional home-based elderly care services
Zhang Jinyuan's volunteer service began 23 years ago when she was already 71 years old. "I feel very frustrated when I see many families unable to receive scientific care. As a nurse, I want to step out of the hospital and into society, so I have the idea of establishing community service."
With this idea in mind, Zhang Jinyuan, who was supposed to take care of herself, resumed her nursing work and became a volunteer. She and 16 retired colleagues spontaneously established the Jiangxi Red Cross Volunteer Nursing Service Center, providing free health education, home care, and other services to community residents.
The beginning of everything is difficult, and when the volunteer service team was first established, it was not recognized by patients and their families. "Once, when we saw a patient being taken out of the hospital, we took this opportunity to talk to our family about the precautions for taking care of bedridden patients. He was very happy and the situation spread."
In order to improve volunteer service:
In October 2009, Zhang Jinyuan founded the Home Elderly Care Volunteer Group, which was composed of a "five person group" responsible for different tasks. The volunteer group provided professional home-based elderly care services to the elderly without leaving their homes in a person to person manner.
In 2010, Zhang Jinyuan initiated the establishment of the Nanchang Nightingale Volunteer Service Team, becoming the first non-governmental organization in the country to specialize in nursing volunteer services.
In 2014, the Jinyuan Love Dedication Team was officially registered, and its service model has been extended to 19 provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions, as well as the United States, Japan, and other places throughout the country.
As of 2023, the volunteer service team has evolved from an initial 17 retired nurses to a team of nearly 20000 volunteers, providing caring services to over 700000 people in over 350 communities.
These volunteers wearing love cards and white camisoles have become a beautiful scenery in the city. Nurse Wan Xinwen is also one of them. "Grandma Zhang felt that many people needed help, but when her daughter asked her to go to Shanghai, she refused and said she would never retire. Her spirit guided me on the path of volunteer service."
94 year old Zhang Jinyuan, with neatly combed and smooth hair, gathered at the back of her head, her waist and back straight, and her spirit vigorous. When asked if being engaged in such a heavy job is tiring, Zhang Jinyuan would smile and say, "I am a '90s generation' and still very young. I think it is most worthwhile to do a good thing with everyone. I was able to persist until the age of 94 because everyone gave me this confidence and strength."
Producer | Cui Xin
Reporters at the head office, Li Jingcheng, Jiangxi Station, Li Xian
Editor | Gao Dandan
Image source: Nanchang First Hospital, Chinese Nursing Association
