Nurses, champions of equality says BNA

The leadership of the local nursing fraternity has pledged to wage an all-out war against gender discrimination and bias in the profession.

President of the Barbados Nurses’ Association (BNA) Valerie Francis-Miller said on Tuesday that the profession must continue to provide room for all genders to practice what they are trained to do and to pursue their passion.

In a message to observe International Women’s Day today, Francis-Miller said that in a world where gender has been a major part of the fight for equality, the nursing profession stands tall as a champion of this cause.

“In a world where professions are genderalised, where females and males are apportioned to tasks, roles, positions and posts, nursing has so long led the equality, discrimination and desensitisation, there is a no-holds-barred approach, as we open up and allow people to be who and what they are trained to be,” she declared.

The nursing association’s leader said such equal opportunities should be given to all trained persons so they can deliver the service to human beings with respect to individuals’ rights, dignity and self-worth.

“No longer is our profession viewed as a space for only the females to operate; but males are moving passionately into spaces of care, comfort and healing, whether we cater to our patients’ physical, mental, psychological or emotional aspects,” the BNA head stated.

Arguing that age by number is no longer a factor, Francis-Miller noted that the profession has always welcomed the passionate nursing student as it sees nursing as a calling that only the individual can know if it is designed for “him, they or her”.

Francis-Miller asked that persons imagine “the broken bias” where there are enough competent nurses at every point of care.

“Imagine nurses feeling even more appreciated, being able to continuously train and acquire their life’s dreams of housing, travel and the comfort of retirement. Imagine nurses understanding each other and harmonising for the love of the profession and those who, for whom we care,” she stated.

She also asked that one imagines more avenues for creativity and further development of nurses here and abroad, continuous nursing exchanges and synergies across the globe.

The BNA president said her organisation supports women equality on this International Women’s Day and will work together to advocate for and uplift each other. (EJ)