SENIOR director of nursing at The University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) Helena Thomson has amplified the call for greater investment in the local nursing profession.

Speaking at the UHWI Nurse of Excellence Award ceremony on July 15 to mark National Nurses’ Week (July 14-20), Thomson said it is time to raise the perception of the nursing profession, adding that nurses continue to contribute to ensuring a healthy workforce for the advancement of the country and the world at large.

Pointing to several challenges being faced by nurses, including a lack of resources and below par compensation, Thomson said this year’s theme for Nurses’ Week, ‘Our Nurses. Our Future: The Economic Power of Care’, served as a call to action for the nation to examine the impact nurses have on the economy.

“I therefore take the opportunity to challenge this organisation [UHWI] and the nation to invest appropriately in nurses,” she said. “Invest in education, a healthy and comfortable work environment, the necessary equipment and supplies to get the job done, suitable living conditions for the nurses of the 21st century, to name a few. The return on such investments will be worth it,” she added.

Thomson also emphasised the need for adequate provisioning of nurses, noting that this is crucial for delivering high quality care and ensuring positive outcomes in healthcare facilities.

“Extensive research demonstrates that nurse to patient ratios have significant impact on mortality, infections, errors, readmissions and patient satisfaction,” she stressed.

She used the opportunity to also charge nurses to hold themselves and colleagues accountable in maintaining the required standards of care, as they conduct their duties. She lauded the finalists for the UHWI Nurse Excellence Award for their commitment to health care and for performing optimally.

“We need to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, ensuring that together we are the providers of the quality care we would like our family, our friends, significant others or ourselves to receive,” she noted.

Delroy Scarlett, chief of retail sales at JN Bank, who presented the Nurse Excellence Award to the winner, also thanked nurses for being selfless and for their dedication to the discipline, despite the many challenges they encounter at work.

“Amid the challenges facing our health-care system, you, our valued nurses, continue to show up daily, even in the direst of circumstances — sometimes working for long hours, as you remain focused on the protection, promotion and optimisation of health. You play a critical role in our health-care sector and your tireless efforts cannot be understated nor undervalued,” he said.

He also reiterated the bank’s commitment to the award, which is presented each year to a nurse who has been true to the art and science of nursing and has been making a difference and positive impact in the society.

“This award strongly aligns with our own mission, as like you, we at JN are also about using our brand to enrich the lives of others. We appreciate you nurses for your devotion and commitment to making our healthcare sector sustainable,” he noted.

Shantel McLean Ford from the UHWI Medicine Programme copped the coveted Nurse Excellence Award at the ceremony, out of a field of six female finalists. McLean Ford emerged on top of the competition, following an intensive selection process which included an interview before a panel of judges. Among other things, the interview tested the nominees’ general knowledge and nursing competency.

Nadine Campbell and Rhona Ferguson took the first and second runner-up spots, respectively.

The top three nurses all received numerous rewards, including a monetary prize from JN Bank. JN Bank has been supporting the UHWI with presenting the award for eight consecutive years.