Sharing more than just a profession

If someone were to fall ill in the Esguerra and Diaz household, there will be three nurses on hand to take care of them.  

Jerico Esquerra and his wife Clarise, together with Pauz Diaz and his wife Claire are truly international nurses having trained and worked in the Philippines, as well as the Middle East before the four of them started at Southland Hospital in July 2023. 

International Nurses Day is celebrated on May 12 annually to mark the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, often regarded as the founder of modern nursing. 

Jerico Esquerra with his wife Clarise, on the left, and Pauz Diaz with his wife Claire. 

They all came together, because twin sisters Clarise and Claire jokingly say they do not want to be separated from one another. 

At the hospital, the registered nurses all work on the medical ward, apart from Pauz, who is an RN in the Critical Care Unit. 

Sharing a nursing career connects them all as they understand the challenges, successes, and sometimes harder days that nurses face. 

As nurses worldwide come together on International Nurses Day, the new “Southlanders” say nursing defines what professionalism means. 

“During a time of crisis nurses always show up and continue to look after their patients,” Jerico says. 

“It’s not an easy job to be a nurse but we always make sure that we wear our uniform with pride and full of compassion to cater to our patients’ needs during some of the hardest times of their life,” Pauz says. 

Jerico Esquerra with his wife Clarise, on the left, and Pauz Diaz with his wife Claire. 

They are not the only nurses at the hospital to share family links.  

Sharleen Frewen, left, with her daughter Natasha Schuck.

There are many mothers and daughters working like Paediatric Outreach Nurse Sharleen Frewen and her daughter Natasha Schuck who is a Registered Nurse on the Children's Ward.  

Their biggest message for International Nurses Day is to remind the public that nursing is a caring profession. 

“We are a profession that gives 100% of ourselves to our children and families. We are a caring profession, and we want our patients to improve as well, and as quickly as they can,” they say. 

 If you know a nurse, feel free to give them a shout out on their international day of recognition.  

 A little bit of kindness can go a long way.