…Min Lawrence urges vigilance in enlisting registered nurses

PUBLIC Health Minister Volda Lawrence has urged the Nursing Council of Guyana to ensure that persons seeking to become registered nurses are “fit and proper.”
As she installed a new 15-member General Nursing Council of Guyana at the Herdmanston Lodge on Wednesday, Minister Lawrence said a critical role of the council is the registration of nurses, noting that such a task must be taken seriously.

In light of the upsurge in the number of persons seeking to enter the profession, she urged that the strict guidelines be followed. “I ask that you be satisfied that each candidate satisfies the criteria and is fit and proper to be registered. Don’t register any and every person. You analyse and ensure that those persons reach the criteria, because if we put garbage in, we will get garbage out. So let us ensure that whatever we put our pen to that those persons are sound, qualified and meet all requirements,” Minister Lawrence urged.

A total of 2,669 registrants have renewed their licences for 2018. However, she acknowledged that Guyana is not a first world country, noting that though stakeholders are working to build the healthcare sector, it is not there as yet. For that reason, Minister Lawrence said as the council utilises the established rules governing the nursing profession, they must also use their judgment and act within the confines of the rules.

“I am asking you to be professional, and don’t let us have one set of rules for one set of persons, and another set of rules for another set of persons. People don’t like you when you do the right thing, and you have to be ok with that,” Minister Lawrence told the councillors.

In keeping with the roles and responsibilities of the council, the Public Health Minister urged that the welfare of nurses be taken into serious consideration.

“As members of the council, you have to be prepared to work assiduously to empower our nurses. You have the authority and the voice under the law to ensure that their needs are met. The nurses have first, and must be comfortable, they too as I said are entitled to good health and well-being before they can demonstrate care and comfort to our citizens,” Minister Lawrence told the councillors as she urged them to hear the concerns of nurses.

Additionally, she underscored the importance of collaboration and effective communication within the healthcare sector., stating that it is critical for the Public Health Ministry and the General Nursing Council of Guyana to work in sync with each other to raise the level of healthcare provided to the nation.

Registrar of the Nursing Council, Donette Kellman, explained that the main aim of the council is to set standards for nursing in Guyana with respect to training of students in Basic and post-Basic Nursing, and the examination and practice of General Nursing and Midwifery.

The council comprises 15 members, six nominated and eight elected with the chief nursing officer sitting at the helm as chairperson. “The terms of office of the council lasts for three years at the end of which an election is held for eight new members. Six persons are nominated to the council by the Minister of Public Health. They include representatives from Educational Institutes, Schools of Nursing, Nurses’ Association and Hospitals,” the registrar explained.

Meanwhile, in addition to the nomination of a lawyer, eight persons representing nurses, midwives, and assistant nurses according to the General Nursing Council election rules of 1955.

The General Nursing Council of Guyana was inaugurated on March 26, 1953.
Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings and Chairperson of the Council Nurse Linda Johnson were among the officials present.