Nurses urged to uphold and restore respect in the noble profession
─ Reg. 6 takes the lead with Int’ l Nurses’ Week observance
DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, May 8, 2019
International Nurses Day will be observed on May 12, 2019. Leading up to the day’s celebration, which is also Florence Nightingale’s birth anniversary, a week-long calendar of activities is in place for its observance. Launching their week of celebrations was the Regional Health Department of the East Berbice-Corentyne Region (Region 6).
Nurses were given the opportunity to embrace this year’s theme of ‘Nursing: The Balance of Mind, Body and Spirit’ with a church service. They were recognised for their ability to balance the work they do while maintaining an exemplary lifestyle.
With the emphasis being placed on upholding and restoring the respect of the noble profession, nurses were urged to wear their uniform with dignity since they work in the most critical division of health care delivery.
During the event, the nurses were called on to rededicate themselves to their profession.
“There are challenges but I urge you to keep up the good work, the profession requires of you that you must do your best to uphold the profession… Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system… I say to you nurses that you must continue to give of your best to the nursing profession, don’t get weary in well-doing, you will reap if you faint not,” urged Matron of the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital, Region 6, Susette August who has served in the profession for several years.
Nursing is the vocation in the healthcare system that employs the largest number of persons and that there can never be too many nurses, she noted. “Nurses maintain the health and wellness of patients throughout all aspects because nurses not only deal with patients with physical ailment… Patients come to us with social, emotional issues and nurses are trained along this line to assess and to really care for persons with these issues.”
Sharing similar sentiments at the brief engagement for spiritual upliftment, both Kim Williams-Stephen (Regional Executive Officer, Region Six) and Alex Foster (Ministry of Public Health, Focal point in the region) agreed that nurses make a difference in the world and in saving lives.
“There were days when as soon as you see a person in white, in spite of their level of academic achievement, just because they wear that uniform they were respected. Every young man wanted to marry them, and every doctor wanted them to work alongside him. People used to be looking at nurses as though they came from another planet,” Foster recalled.
An appeal was also made for retired nurses to partner with policymakers to influence young nurses in the profession, to re-instil values that made the profession what it is today. The profession, which is no longer dominated by females, have seen males joining over the years which, according to Foster, shows that being a nurse is about being a person with a desire to save lives.
“Recommit yourself to work with dedication to uphold your professionalism and to uphold the confidentiality of your patients. Apart from seeing you as their nurse, persons will confide in you so many things, and it is your responsibility to uphold the confidentiality of your profession,” advised REO Stephen.
Nurses Week is hosted in Guyana to raise public awareness of the contribution of nurses in all spheres; to saving lives and building the health system, the world over. It is also observed in recognition of Nurse Florence Nightingale who pioneered the idea of modern nursing.
Story and Images: Delicia Haynes.