‘SVG nurses’ training is second to none’

Nurses in St.Vincent and the Grenadines (SVGNA), and nurses from the New York-based SVG Nurses’ Association SVGNA have celebrated a week of activities aimed at promoting their work and appreciating their fellow medical practitioners. {{more}}

At a two-day symposium held at the school, 22 nurses from the New York based SVG Nurses Association shared their expertise with local nurses at the school from Wednesday, July 6 to Thursday, July 7. Some of the topics dealt with were; cultural diversity in patient care; Elder abuse, patient abuse and customer focused care.

President of the SVG Nurses Association, Susanna Forde said that the relationship developed between the sisterhood would improve standards, since they would be getting updated information on nursing. Forde also noted that the relationship with the New York based Vincentian nurses has helped them to get learning resources, medical equipment and monetary contributions.

President of the New York based Nurses Association, Advira Providence advised nurses “to be like sponges and soak up all the knowledge” that they could. She said that for anyone to realise their full, potential they have to move out from the realm of the familiar, so that they could grow and be able to give more to their country.

In praising the improvement in nursing, Providence congratulated the authorities for improving the facilities and for training more nurses. She stressed that if this country is training nurses to go abroad, they should also benefit from this process

The president said that the training she received before leaving more than 30 years ago equipped her to work abroad and stressed that it is second to none. She warned that one should be careful and refrain from importing something believed to be more progressive because it comes from abroad, when it really may be inferior to the local system.

The president of the 48 member Vincentian New York based nurse group advised that the profession needed more nurses, but those with the right attitude. She stressed that nurses need to be more caring and lamented that sometimes that element could be lacking.

Providence admitted that while nurses could be taught the clinical skills, having a good attitude is something very hard to teach. She ended, “When people are sick a good attitude is very crucial. People don’t just need someone who is going to give them a bed pan and a nurse who is going to pass a tray.”