Nurses warned against complacency, selfishness

Twenty-seven-year old Jewel Baird-Watts, the valedictorian at the recent Georgetown School of Nursing’s biennial graduation ceremony, said her success was the result of constant hard work and dedication, and warned her colleagues not to become complacent or selfish. In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times International after the graduation ceremony at the National Cultural Centre last Thursday, Baird-Watts, who graduated with honours, said the accolades she received came as a surprise. She said she never thought she would be the best graduating student. She attributed her success to family members, friends, tutors, and other nursing students inspiring and encouraging her to do her best.

She received two other awards – the 2012 Dr Randolph Sampson’s Award for demonstrating consistently high theoretical and clinical performances during training, and good interpersonal relationship and leadership skills; and the 2012 Doris Bristol Award.
Baird-Watts, in her address to fellow graduates, said it is time nurses strive to dispel the notion that they are ill-mannered and short-tempered. “Let us not become complacent and selfish, but instead seek to use our knowledge for the betterment and change that we can be authors of. Let’s pledge to seek every opportunity to enhance our education, thus becoming better caregivers,” she said.
Baird-Watts, a registered nurse who hails from Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, stressed that even in the toughest situations, nurses must always endeavour to do their best, as she pointed to the tutors and influential nurses who have set good examples. “We must remember the humility of Sister Dalgety and the patience of Sister James, and seek to emulate them. Let us endeavour to help and to give good patient care, for we have had great examples in our tutors and as, you would know, even our very own first lady is a nurse,” she said.
She further admonished her colleagues to keep up with the evolving nature of health- care delivery, not only in Guyana, but across the world, saying the work has just begun. The valedictorian said nurses should not allow themselves to believe that they know it all, or what they have learned is sufficient. “We must never be afraid to ask questions when in doubt (and to) learn from the experiences of those around us.
Baird-Watts cautioned that the road ahead will not be smooth but filled with challenges to make them stronger nurses. She assured her colleagues that, with perseverance and devotion to the profession, they can achieve their prime goals, which are to be outstanding members of society and to serve as nurses with pride and dignity.