Georgetown Nursing School receives CAN $21,000 in materials to boost nurses education

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Professor Mina Singh, of York University, Canada, who is currently visiting Guyana presented more than CAN $21,000 in books and other educational materials to the Georgetown Nursing School.

Professor Singh worked with the Tutor Development Education Programme, in collaboration with the Health Ministry to train nursing tutors. She said it was a privilege to make the donation towards the nurses’ development, since it will help to better prepare nurses to empower themselves.

“Whatever I can do in strengthening the knowledge capacity of nurses and also to help with the resources both in books and equipment, am very happy, whether it’s critical care or mental health.”

Some of the donated items include medical textbooks, baby mannequins, adolescents’ mannequins, and sitz baths. Professor Singh added that she is very passionate about nursing studies in Guyana.

“I have seen the passion and enthusiasm among the nursing tutors; they are willing to do the best for the nursing students. I have also seen the excitement in the nursing students. If there is anything that I can do to help improve the nursing education in Guyana, I would love to.”

There were intensive training sessions held by Professor Singh with tutors of the Georgetown, Charles Roza and New Amsterdam Nursing Schools focusing on curriculum, instructional development, measurements and evaluation. Gale Swan, nursing tutor, expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Health and Professor Singh for this beneficial initiative. She stated that this will not only assist the nurses, but also benefit all Guyanese.

Singh also noted that efforts will be made to develop a master’s degree in nursing at the University of Guyana for nursing tutors. This will commence with help from the Diaspora in collaboration with the University of the West Indies and PAHO/WHO early next year.

Currently the entry level is the Bachelor’s degree in training for diploma students, but with the master’s degree being implemented, that will be the entry for tutoring.

Dr. Singh is a faculty member in the School of Nursing at York University and was the Coordinator of the Programme Evaluation Unit from 2011-2013, at the York Institute for Health Research. She was nominated for the Dean’s Award of Excellence, Faculty of Health Research Award – Late career (2012).

She received a National Nursing Education Scholar award in November, 2012 to promote research through inquiry, mentorship, and dissemination. In addition, she also received the 2014 Accreditation Reviewer Excellence award from the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing.

[Extracted and modified from GINA]