Nurse Gwendolyn Ryan-White
Nurses week ran from May 8-14, 2011 and this year it was celebrated under the theme, “Nurses Trusted to Care”.
The week opened with a church service on the St. Peters Anglican Church, with their main activity on Monday, a radio address by the president aired on ZJB Radio.
Following on Wednesday the nurses held their annual general meeting when a new president and executive were elected. Nurse Violet Brown emerged as the president, with the rest of the executive Shaumen Gray, Vice President; Louana Joyce, Secretary; Desreen Silcott, Treasurer; Asst. Sec/treas Alex Ackie; and PRO, Nneka Allicock. Along with the executive other positions filled were: Entertainment Chairperson, Donique Layne; Research Chairperson, Christine Layne; Shop Steward (Hospital); Nadine Sweeney; Shop Steward-Community, Dalsi Prince. Trustees are – Shawn Gittens-Holder and Rose Willock.
Current president Nurse Gwendolyn White Ryan reported that Thursday was the day set aside when the public was encouraged to “buy your favorite nurse a flower or a gift or send them to beauty plus to have a hairstyle done or pedicure or manicure.”
ZJB Basil Chambers during his morning show hosted a call-in where the public called in greetings and he added to the mix lunch for a favourite nurse, delivered or otherwise.
On Friday, nurses gathered outside Bank of Montserrat where from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. “where we’re doing our screening of blood pressure, blood sugar and we’re doing height and weight; and if you do have findings which is out of the norm we would refer them to casualty of so they can get follow up,” Nurse white reported.
Saturday night was the set aside for the famous nurse’s concert, but it was postponed. Nurse White explained, they realised that the Anglican youths who were celebrating also a week of activities, were having an activity: “we thought it was only fitting and fair to give them that opportunity and so we have rescheduled our concert,” which is rescheduled for Saturday, June 4.
