Two hundred and four persons graduated from the Georgetown School of Nursing at a ceremony held at the National Cultural Centre on Thursday.
They were from four different categories: Professional Nursing, Post-Basic Midwifery, Single-Trained Midwifery and Nursing Assistant. Eighteen of the graduates were awarded for exceptional performance in the different categories.
In delivering the school’s report Principal Nursing Tutor Sister Pearl Munroe said she was happy with the school’s pass rate for 2008, which was at 97 per cent. She noted that the school has seen a 200 per cent increase in number of students this year. And although the ten-member staff, which is inclusive of administrative staff and cleaners, complemented by 15 part-time staff members, try their utmost to deliver a smooth learning experience for the students, they are faced with difficulties.
Munroe highlighted the challenges in her speech and urged Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Hydar Ally, who delivered the guest speaker’s remarks in the absence of Minister in the Ministry of Health Dr Bheri Ramsarran, to take note.
A group of single-trained midwives singing at their graduation ceremony on Thursday.
The principal said overcrowding was a major issue, with 146 persons registering for the professional nursing programme alone, in June of this year. She said the classrooms were not conducive to learning and there was even inadequate bathroom facilities at the institution; males and females have to use the same washroom.
Munroe said the recruitment of properly trained full-time tutors is necessary for the school. There is an urgent need for audio-visual materials, text books and even janitorial materials.
She also said that a full-time mature social worker is needed at the school to deal with issues. She advocated a regular supply of uniforms for students and a raise in meal allowances for students and tutors.
Munroe also said that tutors should be sent on scholarship programmes in order to enhance their knowledge base.
Stating that there are some nursing tutors who have dedicated 30 years and more of unbroken services to the profession, Munroe said duty-free concessions should be considered as it has been for their fellow public servants, the teachers.
The charge to the graduates was delivered by Director of Nursing services of the Georgetown Public Hospital, Sister Audrey Corry.
Congratulations to the nurses on their graduation, i hope guyana have jobs for these nurses, or else they would migrate to greener pastures,that’s the sad part of it guyana trains them and the u.s.a , u.k and other countries recruits them.
From this batch….aboout 193 will migrate for a better salary, the remainder will stay until the next 5 years.
……….to the principal and staff……..thank you for your hard work…….nurses need to be respect more in guyana…..and should be seen as our only hope……just like back in the day…….i wish them all well…..
I don’t know if congratulations are in order or not due to the amount of issues stated the principal of this institution for example: classrooms not conducive to learning; inadequate bathroom facilities at the institution; males and females have to use the same washroom; recruitment of properly trained full-time tutors; lack of audio-visual materials, text books and even janitorial materials. Now tell me who would like one of these nurses to work on them?. It is apparent that these graduates were “grossly short-changed” in their education . And to think that they could come to the USA with such a substandard education and do nursing. Well, sorry to dissapoint you but you ‘ll know very quickly how much catching up you’ve to do. You’ll have to start all over again.
So many nurses have been graduating from the nursing schools of Guyana annually. Nurses seem to be in abundance in Guyana, and they should have been able to secure employment at the medical institutions of Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago has a serious shortage of people in the medical service industry. A lot of Doctors from Nigeria and South Asia have been going there. So too are nurses from the Philippines. I wonder why The Government of Trinidad and Tobago went as far as the Philippines to recruit nurses where there are so many nurses right next door. Hmmm…. Mamma Fifi….Granny Backbone.
Red Lion
http://www.guyanataloid.com
Also, this is good news. They would soon earn more than the “child-fadas”. This is good for the kids. More money and earning power in the hands of women is most welcome.
Red Lion
this graduation was most disorganised. i a nurse for more than twenty years was not even acknowleged in that gathering. there was the lighting of the candle and i stood and watched many like the permanent secretary with alighted candle. i am sure he never took out a bedpan. the graduates had to pay 5000 dollars to contribute to a lot of trash, those tokens should have been purchased by the ministry and nurses association. all the best to my budding colleagues.
The staff of the Georgetown School of Nursing are to be commended, for the excellent work they have done over the years. The tutors show dedication to students within their school, in spite of the pitiful salaries.
I will always be grateful for the mentorship and they provided to us.
Thank you.
Sr Sandhurst:
Why you all ways have this negative thinking!! Why don’t try to be a Solution than a problem?