(Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Thursday, May 10th 2018): Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital held several initiatives on May 6th – 12th to celebrate International Nurses Week 2018 under the theme: “Inspire, Innovate, Influence.” Nurses from across the organization convened at a special ceremony inside the main foyer of Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, which was video casted to Cockburn Town Medical Centre on Grand Turk.

During the ceremony held on Tuesday, presentations were delivered by senior managers and middle-management teams who lead nurses in different departments. Newly appointed Chief of Clinical Services, Mikette Been gave remarks and is heralded as a trending example of the opportunities for growth available in the nursing profession beyond traditional responsibilities.

Speeches were also delivered by InterHealth Canada’s Chief Executive Officer – Gaston Levac, Dianne Hinneh – Emergency and Ambulatory Clinics Manager, Pheona Brown-Watson – Surgical Suites Manager, Denise Braithwaite-Tennant – Chief of Medical Services and Percy Joseph – Deputy Site Director of Cockburn Town Medical Centre.

The ceremony featured a flameless candle vigil in remembrance of Florence Nightingale who is an international hallmark of the nursing profession. Nurses stood at attention for a passionate recitation of the Nightingale pledge, which was followed by a group musical selection of the song, Carry your Candle.

A story board was created with over 20 nurses standing side-by-side, each holding a sign containing a letter or sentence, to collectively build an important message showing the dedication, compassion and selfless attributes engrained in the profession. The various specialties represented included nurses from the Emergency Department, Surgical Suites, Maternity, Outpatient and Inpatient Departments, Oncology and Dialysis Unit.

Other activities held to observe the occasion included a church service, radio appearance on RTC’s Health Matters show, a gift distribution across the hospital, along with a social barbeque inside the Healing Garden across both sites.

ENDS