Nurses face formidable challenges

Nurses at the conference

Poor working conditions, lack of proper resources and remuneration are some of the challenges that the island’s nurses face in the performance of their duties.

This is according to the chairperson of a committee that organized a three-day workshop to mark the 50th anniversary of formal nursing education in Dominica.

Denise Edwards said nurses in Dominica have remained focused despite the formidable challenges facing them and hopes the conference will raise the morale of the nurses since “a motivated community will give better care.”

“The conference is to give thanks for 50 years of successful implementation of nursing education in Dominica … 50 years where we have moulded men and women to become nurses to provide health care,” she said.

A participant at the conference, Cleotra Dodds-St. John, has given her a different perspective on nursing. “Participating in the conference has strengthened my whole approach to the nursing field. It has been a while since I have done nursing and just a refresher in the courses has helped me in delivering better care to my patients,” Dodds-St. Jons, who has been a nurse for 18 years, said.

The conference dealt with issues which included multi drug resistant organisms, breast examination,  the role that a nurse takes on in delivery of health care, pain management and modern trends in obstetrical nursing.

The anniversary celebrations will continue on Thursday evening with a dinner where people and businesses who contributed to the success of the nursing education will be awarded and recognised, followed by an “oldie goldies dance”.

The nurses will also enjoy a day of relaxation and fun at the Macoucherie river on Friday.

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20 Comments

  1. Saysay
    November 3, 2012

    This month is World Quality Month, Think Quality Do Quality Be Quality, just saying.

  2. ma
    November 3, 2012

    to my fellow nurses, sorry i missed this event i was trained at PMH, THANK GOD for this i will ever be so greatful, its Pmh that has made me what i am today working abroad, great job this week congrats, keep up the good job,let us try to keep PMH name going and elevate the standards of care in the hospital, respecting people culture and showing good leadership. congrats 50 years and beyond, to all the trailblaizers at PMH thank you for your visionary guidance

  3. November 2, 2012

    You all are so negative and ungrateful it is a shame that the attitude of one nurse have to affect the hard work of others, I am sure that not all of the nurses in DA are horrible as some of you think, have any one of you ever stopped to say thanks , job well done to any of the nurses you have met at the hospitals, maybe that would help you the humanity in them, they could be your mother, sister , aunt , or cousin. Think about that. From a nurse who lives overseas.

  4. Stay Alert
    November 2, 2012

    We have a long way to go in providing proper medical care for our people in Dominica. The facilities are poor, very little hi-tech equipment, lack of medications, low salary, low morale, poor bedside manner and the lists goes on and on. Medicines should not be practiced with a lackadaisical don’t care attitude. It is life and death we are dealing with here. When someone is dead they are gone. Do No Harm should always be in motto of the medical practitioners and the government should ensure that the welfare of all Dominicans and those who are patients at the hospitals and health centers.

    Revamping the medical system should be on our governments top priority list. Nurses and doctors are only human. They need to be better equipped to better serve our people. Work on this Now! right Now government and forget other pet projects!!! We need much better health care in Dominica.

  5. T mama
    November 2, 2012

    Ministry buck up…supply the hospital with it’s needs….magwaysa.

  6. jade
    November 2, 2012

    Many of the nurses have poor attitudes. I wonder if this is related to their poor working environment? But still, the people who are under your care and their families are human. Where is the humane side of you? Just saying.

    • jade
      November 2, 2012

      You guys did not have to be rude to my old aunt who sprained her ankle while visiting back home. The nurse who took care of her was from her village and she had such a nasty attitude. This person is now in Boston working as a nurse. She wouldn’t dare bring her nasty attitude in another person’s country. I also believe that some of them get over their heads and treat people like they are beneath them. Stuuupes

    • Sandra
      November 2, 2012

      True

  7. morefire
    November 2, 2012

    money going into roads, into state house plus so much more. so what about our hospital. it’s a sin to have education but no common sense, and this is clearly the case with our government. alas

  8. Nena
    November 2, 2012

    With good working conditions the nurses will deal and help people better ,I am not a nurse but looking at the condition look at Portsmouth hospital when some one leave there nice home to come to work in that what do yo expect

  9. HMMMMM
    November 2, 2012

    Change the poor attitudes to your work, to members of the public and your ward aides then the PM will listen!

    • islandman
      November 2, 2012

      @ HMMMMM Do you have any common sense? Apparently not, it is to sick read comments from people like you……

  10. Peacock
    November 2, 2012

    I feel for the Nurses and do applaud their hard work, dedication and focus despite the trying times and poor working conditions.

    Only last week, I had a chance to visit a sick family member at the hospital and believe when I say, nothing in the hospital has changed for the last 50 years. Same old iron wrought beds, dented, scoffed, calbossay, scratched and with plywood under the mattresses for support. Worse yet, patients had to source their own precision strips to have their blood sugar tested at the hospital. To add to that, the Nurses even took the patients drugs to administer to other patients ….. no drugs…no testing apparatus … no bathroom supplies, no bed linen, pillows, basins, nothing. It is a crying shame to see the state of our hospital in this 21st century. We have our priorities upside down.

    • AHAHA
      November 2, 2012

      @peacock all well and good the information. Would it not be inspiring if you were to pull a few friends together and organise a fundraiser for a few hundred dollars and perhaps donate the proceeding to anyone of those items on your long lists of what the hospital is lacking. We pay for the services yes. but the limitation means the nurses barely scape a decent salary from that added to the rest of the hospital needs. I worked for the NHS UK and the most expensive aspect of the healthcare sector was the medication to be administered to patients. All the money seem to go towards paying those hugh pharmacy suppliers not leaving much behind for anything else. Some of the communities hold fundraisers and car boot sales to help with the additional supplies. Would you consider your actual part in this process….I could come and help if you like. Meet me at BreezieMart Flee market on Saturday and we’ll work out what we can sell fast….yeah

  11. Crap
    November 2, 2012

    :lol: like is nurses alone. What about teachers.

    • Real Talk
      November 2, 2012

      This was a nursing conference my dear.Duh!

      • Anonymous
        November 2, 2012

        Duh! Indeed! :mrgreen:

      • wee
        November 2, 2012

        thumbs up real talk

    • wee
      November 2, 2012

      check min. of education stupes

      • November 2, 2012

        Give the nurses a break, try to walk one day in their shoes, they might squeeze you and you will say ouch and you might understand what they go through in their daily task.

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