The University Hospital of the West Indies congratulates all nurses locally as we celebrate Nurses’ Week in Jamaica from July 19 – 25, 2015.

InternationalNurses Week is celebrated the week of Florence Nightingale’s birthday, which is the 12^th May. In Jamaica, it is celebrated the third week of July each year. This came about because the main sponsor for the Nurses Association of Jamaica activities LASCO, has other commitments during the month of May.

At the University Hospital of the West Indies, specific activities are held for the nurses and these are planned by the Social & Welfare Committee. Our nurses also participate in some of the activities put on by the Nurses Association of Jamaica.

This year the celebrations began with a church ceremony on Sunday. This was followed on Monday by a function, during which the University Hospital of the West Indies’ Nurse of Excellence 2015 was announced; she is Mrs. Nakeisha Lindsay from the Surgery 1 Programme. The first runner up is Mrs. Shauna Callum Lindsay, Surgery 3 Programme and the second runner up is Mrs. Kaydion Gunter Brown, Surgery 2 Programme.

On Thursday a Quiz Competition was held, for which winner was the Obstetrics & Gynaecology Programme; second place went to the Surgery 1 Programme and third to the Surgery 3 Programme

The main activity on Friday was a netball playoff and the final winners were the team from Surgery 2 Programme. Second in the competition was the Obstetrics & Gynaecology Programme.

Over the years the Jamaica National Building Society has partnered with us in giving a prize and plaque to the Nurse of Excellence. This year we also had Scotiabank Work Programme and Honey Bun, giving basket to the various winners.