Why Humanitarian Nursing Matters
Nurses are often the first point of care in crises. Whether supporting refugee health programs, managing outbreaks, or providing neonatal intensive care in resource-limited settings, they are at the centre of humanitarian response.
As Marcus reminds us, “Conflict isn’t just bullets, it’s health systems collapsing.”
This insight reflects the reality highlighted in the RCN’s 2025 report Care Amongst the Chaos: The Voices of Nurses Working in Conflict, which documents a fivefold increase in health worker deaths between 2016 and 2024.
Journeys into Global Health
Elsa’s journey began in Portugal, working with disadvantaged communities before leading HIV/AIDS and neonatal programmes in Zimbabwe and Botswana.
Marcus pivoted from politics to nursing after volunteering in Vietnam, later working in South Sudan, Myanmar, and refugee advocacy in the UK.
Both stories highlight the diverse routes into humanitarian nursing, and the shared commitment to impact.
Lessons from the Field
From malaria outbreaks in rural Zimbabwe to improvised vaccination campaigns in South Sudan, both guests shared moments that shaped their leadership.
Elsa described how humanitarian nursing often requires “horizontal leadership” where decisions are shared and built on trust. Marcus emphasised the importance of cultural literacy, noting that too many clinicians arrive in-country without understanding the politics, history, or even the flag of the place they’re entering.
Education and Capacity Building
A central theme of the podcast (and of the RCN International Academy) is the role of education.
Elsa and Marcus stressed that short courses cannot replace long-term investment in competence and confidence. As outlined in the RCN’s report, nurses form 70-80% of the health workforce, yet remain underrepresented in leadership roles.
Projects such as Phoenix Nursing Myanmar are tackling this challenge head-on, supporting nursing education in fragile systems through hybrid learning, mentoring, and international partnerships.
Advocacy and Global Solidarity
Humanitarian nursing is also about advocacy. From challenging gender-based oppression in Afghanistan to documenting attacks on health facilities in Gaza and Lebanon, nurses play a pivotal role in amplifying frontline realities.
As Marcus put it, “If not us, who? And if not now, when?”
The International Academy at the RCN continues this advocacy by connecting nurses globally and pushing for protections under international humanitarian law. Learn more about their work here: RCN International Academy.
A Call to Future Humanitarian Nurses
For those considering this path, both Elsa and Marcus advise humility, preparation, and building a strong support network.
“You see the best and the worst of the world,” Elsa reflected. “But if you’re lucky enough to step into this work, you have to carry those lessons forward.”
Listen or watch the Full Episode
This conversation is a powerful reminder that humanitarian nursing goes far beyond the bedside, it is leadership, advocacy, education, and resilience in the most challenging contexts.
Listen now to the full podcast with Elsa Afonso and Marcus Wootton.