Tributes paid to nurses in York on International Nurses' Day
"It's a privileged position. I don't think any nurse takes the job lightly."
Tributes have been paid to nurses in York and North Yorkshire, as International Nurses' Day is marked.
The day was first marked in 1965, on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth, to recognise the contributions nurses make to society.
This year, there's a focus on efforts fighting coronavirus, were nurses have "worked beyond the scope of their usual roles."
"A privileged position."
Marking the occasion, we've spoken tothe deputy chief nurse at York Hospital, Helen Hey (pictured above, centre): "We help people come into the world, and we help people to leave the world as well. We're there at people's most joyful, and sometimes most distressing times. That's a privileged position: I don't think any nurse takes the job lightly.
Speaking about working on the coronavirus frontline for the past 15 months, Helen added: "Nurses have worked beyond the scope of their new roles. They've joined and developed new teams, and new ways of working.
"They've had to respond really positively to an ever-changing landscape, and we're tired! They've worked exceptionally hard."
Helen also told us, student nurses have had a big impact on the fight against Covid-19 in the city: "Right from the beginning of the pandemic, the students at the University of York - without really knowing what they were facing - really stepped up to the plate, and joined frontline nursing practice.
"From what I've observed, they've been superb."