310 nurses, including midwives and professional students graduated from the Georgetown School of nursing on Thursday at a ceremony at the National Cultural Centre.
According to a GINA press release the principal’s report stated that this was the largest batch of graduating nurses in the institution’s history.
PAHO/WHO representative for Guyana, Dr William Adu-Krow gave the feature address at the event and highlighted the qualities of Florence Nightingale that are in line with the responsibilities of the nurses including making the best of a bad situation as Nightingale carried out her duties during a war.
Also speaking at the event was the Principal of the Georgetown School of Nursing, Cleopatra Barkoye who highlighted a number of challenges faced by the tutors, the release stated.
According to the release, she pointed out that amidst a lack of potable water at some facilities, a small number of full-time students, poor internet access, no air conditioning units, and other issues, the small team of tutors still rendered adequate and efficient service to the students, equipping them with the requisite knowledge to become nurses.
According to the release, the ceremony came to a close with prizes and award presentations for top performing students of individual faculties, the release added. The graduating nurses also took the nursing oath, the ‘Florence Nightingale Pledge’, along with the lighting of candles representing the flame being passed between nurses.