The Nursing wound that would not Heal

Editor: Some call it a live sore. It is always being dressed and at times appear to be closing in. It smells from a distance, and some professionals have given up working on it. Some patients die with these sores usually not from the sore itself but from some other cause.

Some attribute the lack of healing to “Mal Joe.” Other people are the cause. They do not want to see you heal. Their hatred is translated into this physical malady.

This vexing problem has been diagnosed in education where several students with high ability and potential fail to complete their schooling. For those working on their PhDs, it is called ABDs, all but dissertation. After being denied any of the many scholarships available, I resorted to student loans to complete my studies at Northern Caribbean University in Jamaica. Some who should be facilitators made themselves obstacles in the way. My frequent trips attracted comments such as, “are you an advisor to the Jamaican government?” The slow response too of advisors was not helpful. However, when a new advisor came on the scene, it was smooth sailing. “You have a scientific mind and should be doing quantitative rather than qualitative studies,” Dr. Dave Higgins said. We moved from questionnaires to research to defense within eight months and beat the 10-year deadline after which some classes would have had to be redone. Despite all these accomplishments in the age of an “Education Revolution” there was no reward either in promotion or remuneration. “Why do you spend so much time studying,” some ask. “So that I can be an authority in my field and speak freely,” was my response.

This brings us to the number of workers in our system who have almost completed their studies. Although they are very productive, they are not remunerated adequately. Some institutions have workers specifically dedicated to helping these students get over this last hurdle. We hear the loud cry from the Nursing students who need an appropriate guide to help them pass the practicum. Who will answer this call? Will this wound ever be healed?

Anthony G. Stewart, PhD