AWARDS
Dr. Peter Adams Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences The UWI, Cave Hill Campus
Senator Dr. the Most Hon. Jerome Walcott Minister of Health and Wellness, Barbados
D ean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences Dr. Peter Adams also had high praise for the students on their accomplishment: “All of this attests to the quality and potential of our nurses in Barbados, once they are given the correct opportunity. This is no fly-by-night programme; it was carefully planned and underwent rigorous approval by the Board for Graduate Studies of The UWI.” Programme Coordinator Dr. Wendy Sealy reminded the audience of the critical role of nurses in society: “Nurses have a very important part to play as a patient advocate and being agents of change when change is needed. Frequently, nurses see opportunities for improvement and become innovators to meet this goal as opportunities to provide better care progress to other settings. And often, nurses are called upon to influence … the care decision makers to make a difference.”
shifting to virtual learning demonstrates the adaptability and flexibility required to be a nurse now and in the future,” Walcott said. He also highlighted the need for greater investment in nursing education in Barbados to meet the increasing demands on the health service. “There is absolutely no doubt that a skilled and specialist nursing workforce is central to any healthcare system. We are already witnessing healthcare needs in Barbados and the Caribbean region becoming more complex and multifaceted, and today’s realities are already shaping the future and indicating the lines along which our human resource development in health care should go. “Hence, to maintain credibility as a profession, nurses are required to engage in continuing education, and it is pleasing to note that many of our nurses are continually seeking opportunities for personal and professional development,” he said.
Deputy Principal Professor Winston Moore told the audience that developing countries like Barbados need professional nurses to contribute to the overall social and economic growth. “A good healthcare system therefore minimises the negative shock of illness by reducing mortality rates and the length of stay in healthcare institutions. This also means that investment in vaccination programmes, antibiotic distribution programmes, micronutrient supplementation schemes, and yes, the quality of care provided by the health system can be directly linked to incomes and the standard of living in a country. And the executors of these much-needed services are none other than our nursing personnel. “The professionalism and quality of our nurses is therefore not only something that we would like to have but as a developing country seeking growth, it is something that is most definitely needed,” said Moore, who spoke on behalf of Principal, Professor Clive Landis.
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