International Nurses Day is celebrated annually on 12th May and commemorates the birthday of Florence Nightingale who is widely regarded as the founder and face of modern nursing.

Celebrating International Nurses Day 2025

International Nurses Day holds significant importance as it provides a platform to acknowledge and appreciate the selfless dedication of nurses. It is also a day to recognise their unwavering commitment to providing patients with quality healthcare despite the challenging circumstances they face regularly.

On this day, we should take a moment to express our gratitude to nurses across the globe for their resilience, compassion, and dedication. Whether they are on the frontlines, providing everyday care in hospitals or trusts, clinics and communities, nurses truly are the backbone of our society and our healthcare systems.

To celebrate this day, here at System C, we decided to ask our beloved community of Nurses and Midwives some fun icebreaker questions to get to know them a little more.

Maggie Reid, Clinical Operation Manager (Midwife)

Below you will find the questions asked to Maggie and her answers.

Tell us a little about you and what brought you to your role…

Over the past decade, I’ve transitioned from a successful career in finance and IT to become a dedicated midwife, specialising in research and clinical operations. My expertise in project management, IT systems, and healthcare software optimisation uniquely positions me to lead EPR deployments and clinical transformation initiatives. I am deeply committed to leveraging my diverse experience to drive innovation and enhance patient care outcomes.

What is your favourite aspect about your job?

Being able to lead and innovate within the healthcare sector, particularly in the perinatal space bringing positive change and making a meaningful difference in how services are delivered.  Also, being able to support the growth and development of my team is incredibly rewarding.

If you were going to describe yourself in 3 words what they be?

Resilient, Empathetic and Honest.

If you were stuck on a desert island what is one thing would you take?

Mascara.

If you weren’t a midwife/nurse, what career would you pursue?

Early retirement whilst attempting to be an impressionist artist.

What is your favourite TV/Book/Film?

Outlander.

Maz Howard, Clinical Consultant

Below you will find the questions asked to Maz and her answers.

Tell us a little about you and what brought you to your role…

I entered nursing 31 years ago and qualified as a registered general nurse in 1996, I am also qualified in Neonatal nursing. I’ve worked in a variety of roles over the years within the NHS (Predominantly Neonates, Paediatrics and ED) as well as in corporate and commercial roles. I’m passionate about patient safety, human factors and reducing clinical risk, striving to achieve excellence in digital healthcare transformation for the benefit of our customers and ultimately, their patients.

What is your favourite aspect about your job?

Collaborating with clinical colleagues internally and externally.

If you were going to describe yourself in 3 words what they be?

Quirky, Positive, and Supportive.

If you were stuck on a desert island what is one thing would you take?

Ideally a boat but if not, a crochet project.

If you weren’t a midwife/nurse, what career would you pursue?

Forensic Pathologist.

What is your favourite TV/Book/Film?

  • Book: Alice in Wonderland.
  • Film: About Time.

Chloe Osborne, Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse

Below you will find the questions asked to Chloe and her answers.

What is your favourite aspect about your job?

Empowering digital nurses and their teams to use BadgerNet to improve the care for their patients and ultimately the patients’ outcomes.  I enjoy helping them find creative ways to improve their processes and make their work more efficient – leaving more time for them to care for patients.

If you were going to describe yourself in 3 words what they be?

Creative, Curious, Fun.

If you were stuck on a desert island what is one thing would you take?

A really good book.

If you weren’t a midwife/nurse, what career would you pursue?

I’d like to be a florist.

What is your favourite TV/Book/Film?

Anything by Nora Ephron. 

Jackie Russell, Midwife

Tell us a little about you and what brought you to your role…

I am an Operational Specialist Midwife within System C. Before this I was a Nurse and Midwife with NHS Lanarkshire for 31 years before moving to CleverMed (now part of System C). I am wife to Joe, a Mum to Hannah and patiently awaiting the birth of my first grandchild in the summer for my next exciting adventure as a Granny. 

What is your favourite aspect about your job?

Go-Live Day when you see all the blood, sweat and tears pay off.

If you were going to describe yourself in 3 words what they be?

Calm, Reassuring, Supportive.

If you were stuck on a desert island what is one thing would you take?

Red lipstick.

If you weren’t a midwife/nurse, what career would you pursue?

Train driver.

What is your favourite TV/Book/Film?

  • TV – Law and Order.
  • Book – The Da Vinci Code.
  • Film – The Sound of Music.

Debbie France, Registered Nurse, BSc Hons, and MEd

Below you will find the questions asked to Debbie and her answers.

Tell us a little about you and what brought you to your role…

I have been a registered nurse for 43 years in various clinical setting ending up in male orthopaedics.  I moved into digital nursing and trained users on EPR and Theatre systems before finally moving into clinical safety maybe 15 years ago.  I now have the role of Patient Safety Director and have been at System C for almost 9 years.

What is your favourite aspect about your job?

Making a difference to patients and clinicians by driving improvements in the business to improve the quality and safety of our products.

If you were going to describe yourself in 3 words what they be?

Funny, dedicated and kind.

If you were stuck on a desert island what is one thing would you take?

Suntan lotion as I want to look good when rescued!

If you weren’t a midwife/nurse, what career would you pursue? 

I would be a comic actor.

What is your favourite Film?

Brief Encounter.

Simon Tierney-Wigg, Clinical Safety Officer (CSO) and Mental Health Nurse (RMN)

Below you will find the questions asked to Simon and his answers.

What is your favourite aspect about your job?

Being able to have a ‘foot in both camps’, both clinical and technical, to make sure we keep patients safe.

If you were going to describe yourself in 3 words what they be?

Optimistic, Imaginative, Loyal.

If you were stuck on a desert island what is one thing would you take?

A Swiss Army Knife.

If you weren’t a midwife/nurse, what career would you pursue?

Either a writer or an Archaeologist.

What is your favourite TV/Book/Film?

Book: At the Mountains of Madness, by HP Lovecraft.

TV: Blackadder.
Film: Shogun Assassin.

Jane Saltmarsh, Nurse

Below you will find the questions asked to Jane and her answers.

Tell us a little about you and what brought you to your role…

I started my nurse training at 18 years old and have worked in Paediatrics, Care of the Elderly, Neonatal, and now with our BadgerNet. I’ve been married or 31yrs and have 2 sons.

What is your favourite aspect about your job?

Seeing solutions I have helped to design, working in the system.

If you were going to describe yourself in 3 words what they be?

According to my husband – Creative, Crocheter, Cook

If you were stuck on a desert island what is one thing would you take?

Scissors – they have endless uses.

If you weren’t a midwife/nurse, what career would you pursue?

I wanted to be a nurse from being a small child but I’d love to do something involving crafts or baking.

What is your favourite TV/Book/Film?

I don’t really have favourites, I like comedy, Romcoms, Dramas, Musicals. I’m in a book club so read lots of different books.

Shereen Bryan, Clinical Operations Specialist Midwife

Below you will find the questions asked to Shereen and her answers.

What is your favourite aspect about your job?

Customer engagement and seeing them through the implementation phase to Go-Live.

If you were going to describe yourself in 3 words what they be?

Transparent, Independent and Creative.

If you were stuck on a desert island what is one thing would you take?

A Bible.

If you weren’t a midwife/nurse, what career would you pursue?

Interior Design.

What is your favourite TV/Book/Film?

The film Bridesmaids.

Laura McLaughlin, Clinical Consultant

Below you will find the questions asked to Laura and her answers.

Tell us a little about you and what brought you to your role…

I have been a registered nurse for 10 years and have a background in Emergency Medicine and Cardiology. Having specialised in Digital transformation over the past few years I am now a clinical consultant for System C.

What is your favourite aspect about your job?

Supporting trusts to digitally transform improving patient care and outcomes!

If you were going to describe yourself in 3 words what they be?

I would describe myself as adventurous, ambitious, and creative.

If you were stuck on a desert island what is one thing would you take?

I would take a knife to survive and have endless amounts of coconut water!

If you weren’t a midwife/nurse, what career would you pursue?

I would be a professional sky diver!

What is your favourite TV/Book/Film?

It’s very hard to say one TV series, book, or film – but if I had to pick it would be Disney Pixar film UP, I love the message of the power of love and friendship and embracing life’s adventures!

Next Steps

If you would like to learn more about International Nurses’ Day please view the information page from the International Council of Nurses.

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