Abigail James, a nurse of the Black River Hospital in St Elizabeth, was last Saturday crowned the 2024-2025 Nurse of the Year during the annual LASCO Chin Foundation and Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) Awards. The ceremony was held at the Summit Lifestyle and Business Campus (formerly Knutsford Court Hotel).

James is overjoyed to take the coveted title, indicating, “I feel privileged and honoured yet humble to know I would be the second nurse from my institution to be nominated and the first to bring the title to Black River Hospital.”

She added, “I am proud, happy and excited as I look forward to serving for the next year. The push is not only for my professional growth but to show young girls in my community that, regardless of where you come from, you can be great once you put your best foot forward. Your origin doesn’t determine your destination.”

Emphasising the role of nurses, James expressed that in addition to performing daily duties such as administering care and medication to patients, the nursing community has given birth to great leaders and philanthropists.

“It is always good for nurses to not be seen as healthcare professionals but for the entire package. Sometimes it seems as though our roles are restricted but we stand for different causes and our interaction in society is of utmost importance,” said James.

This statement further underscored the theme, ‘Our Nurses. Our Future. The Economic Power of Care.’
Along with the top trophy, James also walked away with a cash prize of $200,000 and other awards.

Roshelle Mendez and Davia Dwyer, both of the Mandeville Regional Hospital, were adjudged the first and second runners-up respectively. Mendez received a $150,000 cash prize, while Dwyer, $100,000.

Aeisha Anderson of Browns Town Community College School of Nursing topped the field of nine finalists to be named Nursing Student of the Year. She was awarded $100,000 by LASCO, along with a trophy and other prizes.

With one year left of studies, Anderson, who is already a registered midwife, is mentally preparing to stay focused and fully transition into the field.

“I am now transitioning to becoming a Registered Nurse Midwife and it can sometimes be overwhelming being an adult student while balancing the responsibilities of a household. So, I am immensely grateful that I entered and deeply moved by the significance of this award,” she said.

First place runner-up for Nursing Student of the Year was Aneikia Barrett of the Knox Community College School of Nursing, and second runner-up was Cherrilee Brown of the University of the West Indies School of Nursing (UWISON), Western Campus. Brown also walked away with the Public Speaking award. The winning Nursing School was the Excelsior Community College School of Nursing.

During his remarks, Dr Carlos Wilson, Senior Medical Officer at the Percy Junor Hospital, in Manchester, impressed upon the awardees that teamwork makes the dream work. Citing that there are more nurses in the Diaspora than those in Jamaica, he expressed the utmost respect for the profession, noting that every Jamaican has interacted with a nurse at some point.

“From antenatal care to delivery, immunisation, acute and chronic care, nurses continue to leave their mark in the healthcare system in Jamaica. The nurses provide exceptional care to ensure that their patients are taken care of, and are capable of fantastic things in assisting patients in the healthcare system,” Dr Wilson said.

Since 1999, LASCO has partnered with the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) in the annual staging of the National Nurse of the Year programme, with over 5,000 nursing practitioners directly and indirectly reached through the programme.

The Nurse of the Year (NOY) Programme is the recognition of pacesetters within the profession who have displayed high professional, ethical and personal development standards. Interested nurses islandwide are encouraged to fill out an application form and submit to the NAJ office.