By Anastasha Elliott
Today is International Nurses Day dubbed ‘Love a nurse or Adopt a nurse Day’.
In celebration of the Day the Nurses on Nevis are asking that the general public adopt a nurse for the day and show them appreciation for their contributions whether by a
thank you note, a phone call or even taking a nurse out to lunch.
International Nurse’s day is an annual event celebrated worldwide on May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. This year it is being celebrated under the theme “Safe staffing saves lives”.
However the nurses on Nevis have taken the annual celebration a step further and turned it into a week of activities.
Nurse’s Week 2006, which run from Monday May 8 to Sunday May 14 is theme “Nurses united in health”.
As the nurses celebrate the week a number of activities have been held beginning on Monday with a symposium on the topic “Rehabilitative therapy”.
The facilitator for the event was a former nurse, Nurse Walters who is now a rehabilitative therapist.
Aldris Dias, Matron at the Alexandra hospital disclosed that Nurse Walters made a presentation on CVA or stroke at the symposium.
The presentation she said, “was very well done, very well attended and was quite educational.”
Tuesday the nurses visited the various schools on the island where they spoke to students about the nursing profession.
That same evening three nurses took part in “Let’sTalk” programme aired on VON Radio where they advertised and marketed the profession and encouraged young person to chose nursing as a career.
On Wednesday an annual take-away luncheon was held in the parking lot of the Alexandra Hospital where the nurses served lunch to the general public.
Matron Dias commenting on the event said, “it has gone very well. Up to now (1:30p.m) people are still showing up”.
On Thursday the matron said Terri Nisbett of the Foreign Affairs office in St. Kitts gave a feature presentation on CSME and its impact on health. Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. a church service will be held at the Eden Brown Church of God in Butlers and a
health fair is planned for Saturday.
At the fair, which will be at the War Memorial Square in Charlestown the nurses would be on hand to check blood pressure, weight and blood sugar and also offer
educational material.
Sunday the week culminates with the nurses visiting former nurses who are shut-ins to reminisce and share with them.
