Jo Mapes. Photo: Christopher Hopkins
As we take time to celebrate our professions during International Day of the Midwife and International Nurses Day, ANMF (Vic Branch) asked members to reflect on the art and joy of nursing and midwifery.
Jo Mapes
Deputy Executive Director of Nursing & Midwifery, Western Health
What do you love most about nursing?
What I love most about being a nurse is the humanity of it – the privilege of being invited into people’s lives at moments that truly matter. Even after moving into executive roles, that feeling hasn’t changed. I may not be at the bedside every day, but I still get to shape the kind of care patients receive and the kind of environment nurses work in.
Knowing that my work helps someone feel safer, more supported, or more seen – that fills my cup. Seeing our future nursing leaders growing into capable and confident practitioners is also a great source of pride and passion of mine.
How do you find the joy in nursing, especially when the job gets you down?
I’ve learned that joy in nursing often comes in small, quiet moments. When the job feels heavy, I try to pause and reconnect with the parts of the work that first drew me in: the people, the purpose, the privilege of making a difference.
I also lean on my team. Nurses carry each other through the tough days, and there’s something incredibly grounding about that shared strength. Joy doesn’t always come every day, but it can be experienced when we give ourselves permission to pause and remember the reason we do what we do.
What advice would you give to a newer nurse who may be struggling?
I’d tell them that struggling doesn’t mean they’re not cut out for this; it means they’re human. Every nurse I admire has had moments of doubt. I’d encourage them to reach out, ask questions, and let others support them. None of us learned this work alone.
I’d also remind them to be as kind to themselves as they are to their patients. Growth takes time, and confidence is something you build, not something you’re expected to arrive with.
What would you say to someone thinking of nursing as a career?
Nursing is a career that changes you in the best possible ways. It’s challenging, yes – but it’s also deeply meaningful. You’ll never have to wonder whether your work matters. You’ll see it in the faces of the people you care for, in the families you support, and in the colleagues who become like family.
Nursing opens doors to so many paths – leadership, education, research, advanced practice – but at its core, it’s about making a real difference in someone’s life.
