Former Principal Nursing Officer passes
Mrs Norma Elma Dougan, née Browne, became a Registered Nurse in 1966 upon completion of her training at the Staffordshire General Hospital, United Kingdom, and then a Midwife in 1967 at the St Maryâs Hospital in Manchester, United Kingdom.{{more}}
Upon her return to St Vincent towards the end of 1967, she was appointed as a Staff Nurse at the then General Hospital in Kingstown, with effect from February 1, 1968.
She worked diligently and was considered as a nurse whose bedside manner was truly exceptional, and for this she was recognised and immediately promoted to a post of Departmental Sister on December 1, 1969.
Nursing was for Mrs Dougan a vocation, and she, therefore, was persuaded that it was important and necessary for her to deepen her knowledge for her own personal and professional growth and development. And so she headed to Jamaica in September 1969 to pursue studies leading to a Certificate in Advanced Nursing at the UWI, on completion of which she was appointed, on promotion, to a post of Assistant Sister Tutor and then Sister Tutor at the then School of Nursing at Largo Heights.
She is considered to have revolutionised Nursing Education here in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and her sterling contribution as a Nursing Tutor resulted in her appointment to the post of Senior Nursing Officer at the School of Nursing on July 1, 1975.
When Mrs Dougan began her service to this nation in 1968, Nursing needed a new direction, and she, therefore, became a necessary breath of fresh air.
She was a wonderful human being, an exceptionally talented nurse, and the consummate professional, one who set very high standards and principles for her students, and also for the qualified nurses. She took a huge interest in all nurses and their well-being and consistently encouraged them to increase their knowledge of Nursing and sharpen their skills. Indeed she epitomised what a nurse really ought to be.
The Honourable Minister and the entire range of professionals within the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, therefore, use this opportunity to convey our condolences to the husband, children, grandchildren, siblings and other relatives of this distinguished public servant who retired as Principal Nursing Officer on June 4, 1997.
We thank Almighty God for her outstanding contribution to the development of healthcare in our blessed nation.
May she rest in peace.
Luis de Shong
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment
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