KINGSTON, Jamaica – Laverna Campbell is the LASCO/Nurses’ Association of Jamaica (NAJ) Nurse of the Year 2016-17.

Campbell, who was first runner-up in the 2010-2011 Nurse of the Year programme and who works at the Percy Junor Hospital in Clarendon was crowned today (Sat July 23) at the awards luncheon held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. Six nurses vied for the coveted crown.

She received the LASCO/NAJ Nurse of the Year trophy and a cheque for $200,000 amongst a host of prizes.

Runner-up Keisha Riley, a registered midwife at the Spanish Town Hospital received $150,000 in cash along with a trophy; while Natalie Hylton, a critical care nurse at the Cornwall Regional Hospital was awarded the third place trophy in addition to a $100,000 cheque.

Campbell shared the spotlight with the newly crowned LASCO/NAJ Nursing Student of the Year for 2016-2017, Nadja Brown. A student of the University of West Indies (UWI) School of Nursing, Western Jamaica Campus, Brown received a trophy and a cash prize of $100,000.  

The nurse of the year in an interview following her crowning said she is a strong believer in the continued development through education of nurses and has pursued higher education in the profession for several decades.  

Campbell now holds a Master of Science Degree in Nursing Administration from the University of West Indies, Mona School of Nursing (UWISON), having previously completed courses in Midwifery, Operating Theatre Techniques and Health Science Management at Victoria Jubilee Hospital, University Hospital of the West Indies and UWI Mona Department of Management Studies respectively.

In addition to her nursing qualifications, Campbell is also actively involved in her community as member of the Kiwanis Club of Spaulding/Christiana, and as a Captain in the Jamaica Combined Cadet Forces.

Executive chairman and founder of LASCO Affiliated Companies, Lascelles Chin, spoke of the importance of resilience in business as he addressed attendees at the awards luncheon.

 “I can tell you without a shadow of doubt, that resilience is a key factor for achieving change,” declared Chin.

“It is resilience that has taken LASCO from a small company distributing one product to the distribution and manufacturing of hundreds of products. “Now, we are a multibillion dollar company in distribution, finance and manufacturing. Persistent focus and resilience played a leading role in getting us where we are today.”