Nurse executive practice in the Republic of South Africa

In September, 1991,1 bad the privilege of delivering a keynote address at the Centenary International Nursing Conference in Bloemfontein, South Africa. As the first country in the world to formally register professional nurses, it was a gala event celebrated throughout the entire country. Because of United States sanctions against South Africa, I bad reservations about whether or not to accept the invitation to the conference. However, I knew that nurses in South Africa may have encountered professional Isolation because of the political and racial unrest in that country. Since these nurses were celebrating the 100th year of registration for professional nurses, it seemed that they deserved to be joined by nurse colleagues around the world in commemorating such achievement. As it turned out, it was a very good decision indeed.