By OBAKENG MAJE
7 August 2025- Being a good nurse requires a combination of essential qualities and skills such as empathy, strong communication, critical thinking and attention to details. If you are looking for all these attributes do not look further than Boitumelo Motimeng (42), a qualified nurse at Taung District Hospital.
Motimeng, who is celebrating 20 years of excellence in the profession, said he is thrilled by these achievements. He said he was passionate about nursing from an early age.
“I’m thrilled to share my story with The Guardian Newspaper. I was born and raised in Manthe village, near Taung, a place I am proud to call home. Growing up, I witnessed the impact of quality healthcare on families and communities, which inspired me to pursue a career in nursing.
“So, my desire to become a nurse stemmed from a personal experience. I have first-hand experience on what a different compassion and care can make. I pursued nursing to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives,” said Motimeng.
He further said what inspired him daily is seeing patients recovering and knowing that he made a positive impact. Motimeng added that it is a privilege to serve his community.
“As a nurse, I believe patients deserve respectful, empathetic, and professional care. My advice to fellow nurses is to prioritize patient-centered care, remain kind-hearted and improve their skills continually.
“There challenges that we come across as professional nurses at our work places such as managing workload, limited resources, and maintaining patient trust. Despite these, we strive for excellence. We also have successful stories and for me what stands out is managing a vaccination site, combating spread of communicable diseases for sale of community immunity,” he said.
Motimeng is currently working as a coordinator for a nursing/health programme (infection prevention & control), where he oversees patient care and mentoring junior staff. He said being a nurse in rural areas means being part of a close-knit community, where healthcare is often a challenge.
“However, it is rewarding to make a difference in people’s lives, despite these challenges. Reaching 20 years of service feels like a dream come true. I am definitely proud of my achievements and looking forward to continuing to serve our people with diligence.
“In the next five years, I would like to see myself in a leadership role, driving healthcare improvements and mentoring the next generation of nurses. I would also like to encourage other nurses to practice the Health Ministerial goal and be guided by the Batho Pele principle,” said Motimeng.
In 2010, he was elected as the Best Nurse in Marylyn Lehana Awards in North West. Motimeng also entered the national competition for the Best Nurse and occupied the 2nd position.
The Guardian 