Cayhill- One day after their examination, 19 nurses took their oath as Registered Nurses at their graduation ceremony on Friday, June 28, 2013.
The theme of the ceremony was “Passing the Torch”. Each graduate was escorted in by a pensioner Registered Nurse, Nurse Pioneers of St. Maarten who then passed on a nursing torch to the graduate. This symbolically gave to the new registered nurse the privileged task to continue the work of nursing in their community.
After the official welcome by the Interim Director of the St. Maarten Medical Center, Drs. Yvonne van Ameijden, congratulatory speeches were addressed to the graduates.
Honorable Prime Minister Sarah Wescott-Williams expressed being pleased to see that nurses are furthering their education to become more qualified to serve in the community. The prime minister encouraged them to take to heart the responsibilities and commitment to patient care as the pensioned nurses did. In absentia, the Minister of Health congratulated the nurses, friends and family of the graduates.
Course Coordinator /Manager Patient Care of the SMMC, Mr Antonio Pantophlet, encouraged the graduates to not think of themselves as heroes or heroines, but to do all in their power to be the best role model to their fellow nurses, their patients and families. The passing of the torch from the pensioner nurse to the new registered nurse further emphasized the influence of role models in the nursing career. Clinical nursing instructor/educator Nrs. Brunilda Illidge reminded the graduates of the strength in optimism with the analogy of the half full glass.
The nurses took the Oath under the supervision of the Inspectorate of Health: Nurse John Conner and Dr. Dirk van der Plas.
The two year registered nurses course was coordinated and instructed by the education department of the St. Maarten Medical Center. Of the group, 13 were nurses of the St. Maarten Medical Center, 4 from the White and Yellow Cross and 2 from St. Eustatius.
The nurses obtained their Diploma from IFE, nursing school of Curacao. With this diploma the nurses can further specialize and go into education and managerial positions in nursing. Nurses can also continue their studies in the USA, Netherlands and England.
In October 2013 the accelerated Licensed Practical Nursing Course will commence. The education department of the St. Maarten Medical Center expects to instruct nurses from St. Maarten, Saba and Statia. Through the various education programs the department creates the opportunity for learning and growth among SMMC employees in offering practical training that is designed to meet their personal and work expectations. We encourage our employees to benefit from this.
Graduates with course instructors, Manager Patient Care and Honorable Prime Minster.