Senior nurse: Investing in nurse education is investing in healthcare

A senior nursing officer has described a $100 000 donation to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s (QEH) Nursing Services Department as an investment to ensure the next generation of nurses is properly prepared to provide quality care.

As the Olga Worrell Memorial Scholarship Trust presented the donation on Wednesday, Senior Nursing Officer for the Medical Directorate Cherry Jackman-Collymore said the contribution represented far more than financial assistance, as it would help strengthen critical care nursing and improve patient outcomes.

“To us, it is more than just money,” she said. “We have spent hours in that setting. We have lingered long by the beds of patients on ventilators. To us, it was more than just machines. It is willing our breath and our blood into the life of those patients on the bed.”

Reflecting on the demands of critical care nursing, she gestured to the senior nurses who were present, saying experienced nurses often wonder who will continue the work after they retire.

“Sometimes we ask ourselves: who will follow behind us? Who will give the care that we love so much? And we are proud to see three nurses in front of us who we can say, yes, they will follow on.”

The donation from the Olga Worrell Memorial Scholarship Trust will support critical care nursing education and professional development at the hospital. Three members from a previous cohort, Jalisa Croney, Shakera Harewood and Petra Goddard, were in attendance for the ceremony.

Jackman-Collymore said the scholarship reflected the trust’s belief in the value of nursing and its impact beyond the walls of the hospital:

“The nursing theme for 2024 was ‘The Economic Power of Care’. It speaks to strategic investment in nursing because all of us believe that investing in nursing is investment in the health care of Barbados, and it’s also an investment in the communities.”

She thanked the trustees for continuing veteran nurse Olga Worrell’s legacy, adding that the scholarships would strengthen the recipients’ skills and ultimately improve the standard of care provided to critically ill patients.

“This trust will also help to strengthen their skills, and it will also enhance the quality of care that they will give to improve… critical nursing. Once again, thank you very much for investing in nursing and investing in the health of Barbados.”

Previous scholarship recipient and cardiac suite nurse, Petra Goddard, also spoke of the programme’s impact, describing the course as rigorous but invaluable:

“I also want to thank you for giving us the opportunity for doing this course. It is quite a lot. We learned a lot. It’s very in-depth, and it goes way beyond our nursing scope.”

She said the additional knowledge gained allows nurses to play a greater role in patient care.

“We get to learn what doctors know, and that’s very important. We can also cue in on assisting with patient care, and that is very valuable within this course.”

Thanking the trust once again, Goddard said the opportunity would have lasting benefits for both nurses and the patients they serve.

(LE)