Zimbabwean Nurse Outshines 7,000 Students To Win Zambia’s Best Nursing Award

A 30-year-old Zimbabwean student nurse from Kwekwe, Midlands Province, has made the country proud in Zambia after winning top honours as the best nursing student.

Gracious Chiedza Jim outshone more than 7,000 students across the country to be named Zambia’s overall best student in registered nursing. She said:

“It really came as a surprise, and I was honoured to receive such recognition in a foreign country.”

Jim’s accolades include awards for Best in Medical and Surgical Nursing, Best in Leadership, Management and Governance, and the prestigious Board of Directors Award.

Her passion for nursing was sparked in 2021 during her IT attachment at Kwekwe General Hospital, where the hospital environment and inspiration from her two sisters, both professional nurses, motivated her to pursue a career in healthcare. Said Jim:

“Hearing medical personnel speak in their medical language was so intriguing.

“I was exposed to the hospital setting, attended meetings with medical staff, and participated in disease surveillance. It was really interesting.”

Jim attributes her achievement to hard work, self-motivation, and the unwavering focus she maintained during her nursing studies. She said:

“I wasn’t sure about nursing at first, but the training helped me realise it was the right fit.

“The first week was about life skills, self-awareness, and goal-setting. It helped me focus and improve myself.”

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Beauty Siansende Zimba, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of the Nurses and Midwifery Council of Zambia, praised Jim’s achievement, saying her outstanding performance among thousands of students was a clear reflection of hard work, dedication, and a strong commitment to the nursing profession. She said:

“We must be torchbearers of good behaviour and dedication in healthcare. This achievement by Gracious Jim must motivate others to take their lessons seriously.”

Jim was born and raised in Kwekwe, the sixth of nine children. Her mother is a farmer, while her father is a retired transportation manager at Kwekwe General Hospital.

She attended Tasungana Primary School, Munyati High School, and Manunure High School. Later, she spent two years at Gtel before studying IT at Kwekwe Polytechnic.

More: NewsDay