Nursing ‘a national duty’

Nursing is not just a job, it’s a national duty.

This was the clear message delivered by Senior Tutor for the Division of Health Sciences at the Barbados Community College (BCC), Karen Worrell, as she addressed the newest cohort of students to the Certificate in Nursing Auxiliary Studies (NAS) programme on Monday.

The programme, which is funded by Sagicor and The Estates development in St. George and will run for six weeks, has seen a significant increase in the number of applicants in 2021. There have been 120 applications received so far for the year – more than double the numbers seen in the previous cohort.

During her address, Worrell told students that in the face of COVID-19 and other health challenges facing the nation, their choice to work in such a noble profession is not just a job opportunity, but one that should be seen as a duty to the country.

“This is not a job now, this is a national duty. You can be called upon; COVID has shown that to us, where we have retired nurses who are asked to come back out and give of their service . . . as several of our health care institutions were belaboured by the effects of COVID-19,” she said.

“You are part of that now, and I need you to understand that. This is not just a job, you are part of the national duty. You and your family are not just dependent on what you do here, the nation is awaiting your formal entry into nursing services here on the island.”

Co-chair of the NAS programme, and board member of Sagicor Life Inc. and The Estates at St. George, Dr Jeannine Comma, told participants that with the company already investing heavily in The Estates project, which is slated to be a resort-style residential community targeted towards retired senior citizens, it was important for the organization to invest in the future of nursing.

She said medical personnel not only need to be trained thoroughly in the care of seniors, but in customer service as well.

“There are some unique features that the programme ought to be catering to, and one of the features is that it has to have a heavy focus on customer service. The skills are important and paramount, and they are the bedrock of the programme, but we are saying it’s not business as usual,” Dr Comma said.

“COVID has changed the landscape that we live in, it has changed the landscape that we work in. Persons who go to The Estates or other homes are looking for superior customer service, and ladies and gentlemen, in Barbados we know how to be hospitable, but what we are saying [is] that we need to infuse that customer service, in our everyday association with our jobs,” she further explained.

Principal of the BCC, Annette Alleyne, also told media after the morning’s proceedings, that the board of the institution was more than pleased with the current increase of a 70 per cent pass rate by graduates of the nursing programme, up from 12 per cent in 2018.

“In terms of the pass rate, I want to say it has been quite the journey and I wish to thank our board of management, for when they came on board they first of all asked that we have a review of the entire nursing programme, specifically the Bachelor’s programme.

“That is what started us at looking at what we were doing and trying to make sure that what we offered at the BCC was consistent and what was required at the regional level. So, those steps that were put in place allowed us to improve our processes,” Alleyne said. (SB)