Nine more Nurse Cadets, drawn from the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, have graduated from the six-month training programme. This number is in addition to the 21 students who graduated last year.
The graduation ceremony had as its theme: “Nurse Cadets – the Future of Nursing inAnguilla”. It was held at Aleta Restaurant at Viceroy, on Saturday, April 21, as part of the property’s continuing support for the training programme.
The graduates were Danecia Hodge, Gesel Hodge (special award), Jaime Difo Lorenzo (special award), Kennesha Busby, Renee Bryan (special award and Cadet Nurse of the Year), Robson Petty, TeronHarrigan, Vince Webster and Zipporah Bannister.
Guidance Counsellor at theComprehensiveSchool, Anita Martin-Ruan, who delivered the motivational speech, listed a number of qualities that a good nurse should possess. Among them were that such a person must be prepared for extreme hard work and dedication; should be highly trained; be prepared to go the extra mile; have excellent communications skills, speaking in a manner that all patients can understand;excellent observation skills in looking after patients; be emotionally stable to deal with all conditions affecting patients; be confident in treating patients in the absence of a doctor; show kindness and empathy at all times in carrying out their duties; have good physical endurance; have respect for people and rules; and must be confidential in handling information relating to patients.
Mrs. Martin-Ruan observed that the Nursing Cadet Programme and the Summer Placement Programme were two excellent means of encouraging young persons into nursing and that, over the years, the numbers had been increasing. She sounded a note of caution that unless the Anguilla society was careful it would lose the interest of its young people.“I am a firm believer that if they are interested – wrap them and mould them from now,” she stressed.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Health Authority of Anguilla, Ralph Hodge, said the Nursing Cadet Programme was another effort to encourage more Anguillians into the nursing profession. “You have gone through the Cadet Programme, over several months, and I am sure your thirst for knowledge relating to the nursing profession may not have been filled, but has been strengthened, he told the graduating cadets. “You have good mentors in the nursing profession on Anguilla, and even though your training period has now ended, do not be afraid to keep in touch with them. I know that they will be happy to nurture you as their partners and even replacements.”
Mr. Hodge was grateful to the Health Authority Staff, the Head and Deputy Head of Nursing, the Tutorial Staff and the Chief Nursing Officer for their support. He was also grateful to Nurse Serene Carter-Davis, who introduced the Cadet Programme, and to the Health Authority Board and its Patient Care Committee who approved it.
He recorded his thanks to Viceroy for hosting the ceremony, emphasing the link between tourism and economic development.
The Nurse Cadet of the Year was Renee Bryan. She said she was excited to join the second programme which started on September 1, 2011, at thePrincessAlexandraHospital. “We had a series of interesting subjects. I enjoyed them all especially Career Pathway, First Aid and CPR, Ethics, Skills and Infection Control. We also had practical sessions,” she stated in her speech. “During the skills session, we were shown how to check blood pressure and pulse after which we were able to check each other.”
Ms Bryan spoke about other areas of the programme, during the second term, including putting on appropriate attire to go into theater, applying a sling to a bandage and washing hands within a specific time. “It was truly a fun and work experience,” she went on. “I enjoyed it very much. I am so elated that I was able to participate in the programme. It made me even more aware of the honourable role a nurse plays in our society. I hope that many others will take advantage of this opportunity. You will not regret it.”
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Development, Dr. Bonnie Richardson-Lake, was pleased that Nurse Carter-Davis and her team had organised the programme. She saw it as a wonderful experience for everyone to work towards Anguilla having its home-grown nurses. “It is our hope that the Nursing Cadet Programme sparked an interest in nursing in all of you,” she told the students. “Nursing is an extremely wide field with many options available to you…There is much to be done in the field of nursing, and it requires educated, talented and skilled young people to take up the mantle,” she said.
Mrs. Serene Davis-Carter offered congratulations to the students for showing an interest in the noble profession of nursing and completing the programme. “I hope that from hereon you would continue to deport yourselves in the manner in which your lecturers have spoken to you,” she said. “The extent of the programme is not only to have nurses, but to have well-rounded citizens of Anguilla.” She appealed to everyone in the Ministry and the Health Authority for support to continue the programme.
Others who participated in the programme were Alicia Haywood, Acting Director of Nursing, who served as Chairperson; Pastor Dexter Welcome, who gave the invocation; and Twyla Bradshaw-Richardson, Registered Nurse/Registered Midwife, who gave the Vote of Thanks.
