For more than four decades senior nurse Linda Shah has dedicated her life to caring for some of the most vulnerable members of the community.
Based at Lotus River Community Day Centre, the specialist psychiatric nurse said compassion, patience and kindness remained at the heart of nursing, values she believes can change lives.
As the world marked International Nurses Day, celebrated on Tuesday 12 May, the City of Cape Town’s Health Department celebrated the dedication and commitment of its 689 nurses, who continued to serve communities across the metro under often demanding circumstances.
This year’s theme, “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives,” highlights the need to strengthen and support nurses through fair working conditions, safe environments and stronger leadership opportunities within healthcare.
Nursing Passion
For Shah, nursing was always more than just a career choice.
“Nursing has always been my passion and calling,” she said. “Coming from a family where nursing runs deep, I knew from a young age that caring for others was the path I wanted to follow.”
Her journey in health care began in 1982 when she started training as a student nurse.
She qualified as a general nurse in 1985 before completing a Diploma in Midwifery the following year.
Shah gained valuable experience at Groote Schuur Hospital, working across several departments, including the cardiac intensive care unit.
In 1991 she joined Lentegeur Hospital, where she developed a passion for psychiatric nursing.
She later completed a diploma in psychiatry, worked with psychiatric and intellectually disabled patients, and furthered her qualifications with a national higher diploma in community health science in 1999 and advanced psychiatry in 2012.
Since joining Lotus River Community Day Centre in 2013 Shah has continued serving the community as a specialist psychiatric nurse, helping patients navigate emotional and psychological challenges.
Patient Hope
“The most rewarding part is making a positive difference in patients’ lives, supporting them through emotional and psychological challenges and seeing their progress, whether it’s recovery, stability or even a smile, brings great fulfilment.”
She said one of the most meaningful aspects of her work is building trust with patients and helping them feel safe, respected and heard.
Despite the rewards she acknowledges that nursing comes with many challenges.
Staff shortages, increased workloads and burnout remain among the biggest pressures facing health-care workers today.
“Nurses face many challenges, including staff shortages when colleagues are booked off ill or have family emergencies to attend to, which increases the workload for those on duty. Burnout due to the high demands of work is also a major concern.”
Shah added that balancing the emotional demands of nursing with family and personal life can often be difficult, particularly in the mental healthcare environment where emotional resilience is essential.
Yet even in difficult moments she said small breakthroughs with patients remind her why she entered the profession.
One patient interaction, in particular, has remained with Shah throughout her career.
“I cared for a psychiatric patient who had completely lost hope and stopped communicating. With patience and kindness I continued to support him.”
Community Care
Over time the patient slowly improved and eventually opened up again.
“After recovering he thanked me and said my care gave him hope during his darkest time,” Shah said.
“That reminded me that nursing is not just about treatment, but about compassion and restoring dignity.”
To maintain her own well being while caring for others Shah said she focused on rest, healthy living and spending time with family.
Prayer, positivity and support from colleagues also help her remain emotionally grounded.
As health-care workers across Cape Town were honoured this International Nurses Day, Mayco member for Community Services and Health Francine Higham praised nurses for the critical role they play in strengthening communities.
“Nurses are the backbone of our primary health-care system. Empowering our nurses means strengthening the entire health-care system, communities and ultimately saving lives.”
Shah hopes her story will inspire more young people to consider nursing as a career.
“Nursing is a calling that requires compassion, patience and dedication,” she said.
“It can be challenging, but it is deeply rewarding. Stay humble, keep learning and always treat patients with respect and kindness, small acts of care can make a big difference.”
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