Retired Nurse chronicles her experiences in Guyana as a healthcare professional

By Naomi Marshall

SHARING her experience as a Nurse in Guyana through her book, “Nursing in sunshine and shadow,” is now retired Nurse, Gloria Elizabeth Noel, AA.

Noel served as Guyana’s first Principal Nursing Officer(PNO) (now Chief Nursing Officer) during the period 1970-1979. During her tenure as PNO, she contributed significantly to the strengthening and development of nursing in Guyana and the Caribbean and was instrumental in raising the image of nursing and the professional status and morale of nurses.

The lady of vision and profound sense of mission also received several awards in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the health and nursing sector including Minister of Health Award for “Leadership in the field of Nursing 1975;” Dame Nita Barrow Memorial UK’s Nursing visionary 2009, and the National Award ‘Golden Arrow of Achievement’ in 2016, amongst others.

Noel’s memoir of nursing in Guyana gives readers an insight into the challenges and the highpoints she experienced as a nurse during the 1990s.

According to Noel, the book was made with the intent to record the milestones made in the nursing sector and to articulate “how the love of people, the desire to be of service to one’s country, hard work, and leadership can influence the achievement of one’s personal and professional goals.”

The book “Nursing in sunshine and shadow” got its name from the first two lines of the old poem “El Dorado” that is well known from the history of Guyana, based on an assortment of buccaneers and bureaucrats who pursued fantastic cities of gold and glory in Guyana.
“But as we know in nursing, there is no golden bounty of easy riches to be found, only hard work and sacrifice. The real “El Dorado” or treasure is to actually promote health and wellness to individuals, families and communities, and to help bring about healing, recovery and rehabilitation of the sick,” Noel stated.

She added that the ultimate ‘gold’ of nursing is “to receive the thanks of a grateful parent, or stop the tears of a suffering child, or help implement effective health measures that will improve the life chances of thousands.”

Meanwhile, the ‘shadow’ represents economic deprivation, shortages of essential equipment and supplies, inadequate salaries, amongst others.

However, the retired nurse expressed that she is gratified to see the advancements made in the nursing sector which CARICOM through the Regional Nursing Body have played a major role in determining and influencing policies that affect nurses, nursing and related issues.
Noel was also happy to know that she was involved in the development of the nursing curricula, the implementation of continuing health and nursing education programs, the development of systems of nursing and manpower studies.

Noel is encouraging the nurses of Guyana to be the best they can be, in spite of the many challenges, adding, “strive to maintain good relations with each other. Be forgiving, avoiding harm or unwarranted criticism and negativity, though we must also be honest and candid as the situation demands. It takes a special person to be a nurse. You are the unsung heroes, the unseen angels. Take care of yourselves emotionally and physically. Remember you are the fabric and future of health care in Guyana. Continue to pray for wisdom and guidance daily as you provide needed health and nursing care.”

All proceeds from the sale of the book, “Nursing in sunshine and shadow,” will go to the Guyana Nurses Association.