Two hundred and fifty-one students graduated from the Georgetown School of Nursing yesterday, according to the Department of Public Information (DPI).
Leola Charles, a graduate from the Professional Nursing Programme of the Georgetown School of Nursing and now a registered nurse, emerged as the 2018 valedictorian. Charles, along with others, received special awards for their outstanding performances, DPI said.
This year’s graduation marks the school’s 31st Biennial ceremony.
In her valedictory speech, DPI said that Charles encouraged her batch along with those who have completed other programmes, to be trailblazers in their respective fields.
“Let us leave a trail that others will be proud to follow. Class of 2018, as graduates, we face many uncertainties in both the immediate and distant future, however, it’s up to us to make a difference to have people say honourable things about us and leave the impression that you never gave up on yourself”, Charles declared.
Leola Charles was the recipient of the Minister of Public Health Award and the first-ever PAHO/WHO award among several others.
In her feature address, Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence said that since her appointment to the sector, she has worked assiduously with the faculty of Health Sciences and Education to make necessary changes to nursing education.
She expressed her confidence in the graduating batch’s preparedness to be deployed into the Public Health system.
The graduates were also encouraged to demonstrate an excellent level of patient care.
“We at the ministry recognize that you are the pillars of a sustainable and an effective health system, the core of the next generation of nurses on whom Guyana will depend for a resilient and robust health structure”, Lawrence said.
Midwife Ann Ferguson-Goppy, Registered Nurse Melissa Emanuel and Nursing Assistant, Sherl Daniels highlighted their journey to completing their individual programmes.
Goppy said, “this is one of my accomplishments since I became a Registered Nurse. My future plan is to complete my BScN, starting September 2019.” Nurse Emanuel added, “It wasn’t easy but we were successful. I am moving on to do my degree and then my masters.”
