By Svetlana MArshall

NURSES in Guyana have been urged to uphold the values of the nursing profession against increasing reports of unprofessionalism displayed by some. The Health Ministry’s Director of Regional and Clinical Services, Dr. Kay Shako, said nurses, though faced with many challenges, have contributed significantly in the area of health throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.

Nurses have played a leading role in reducing many of the risk factors of maternal and child mortality, and decreasing the spread of malaria, tuberculosis, polio and HIV, she said.
However, these contributions are ever so often overshadowed when nurses behave in an unprofessional manner. The negative attitude displayed by some nurses remains one of the biggest problems within the profession, Dr. Shako opined.
“This is a big issue in nursing. I think it was an issue previously, but for some reason it has expanded, I am not sure what is happening. Is it that persons are so caught up with their everyday problems that they take these things into the workplace without realising the impact on their service to humanity?”
Dr. Shako said no patient should have to suffer because of the personal problems experienced by nurses. “Let a positive attitude be a part of you when you are dealing with your patients,” she admonished.
Lack of empathy, privacy and confidentiality were among the other issues brought to the table.
Nurses are therefore being urged to live up to high standards established by Florence Nightingale – a nurse who spent her night rounds giving personal care to the wounded.
“She was an investor, a visionary, a missionary, and she delivered all with…passion and love, and you nurses are no different…,”Dr. Shako emphasised.
Dr. Shako was at the time delivering the keynote address during a Symposium on Professionalism in Nursing at the Ocean View Convention Centre recently. The event, held under the theme “Nurses: A Force for Change: Improving the Health System’s Resilience,” was organised by the Guyana Nurses Association in collaboration with the Guyanese Nurses Association of America Inc., the General Nursing Council (Guyana) and the Public Health Ministry.
Guyana’s Chief Nursing Officer, Tarmattie Barker, who was among the health officials present, called on the nurses to be agents of change.
Barker said nurses, though faced with increasing health challenges, continue to make significant contributions towards the development of a resilient health sector.
“Nurses, your roles and responsibilities are key and critical, and you contribute to the development and delivery of a high quality of care and service to the population of Guyana,” she posited.
She said despite the challenges, nurses must uphold the values of the profession. “Be a face for change,” she further admonished while encouraging them to build their personal and professional resilience as well.
President of the Guyana Nursing Association, Veronica Douglas, and its Executive Director Grace Bond were among those present in addition to the President of the Guyanese Nurses Association of America, Ingrid Alleyne-Green, and nurses from across the country.