Hawkins Nanton, Gleaner WriterVALDA LAWRENCE-CAMPBELL, president of the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ), has made a call for better treatment of nurses throughout the island.
Addressing participants at a recent Gleaner Editors' Forum at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, St. Andrew, Lawrence-Campbell said nurses are providing efficient health care to people without much recognition.
She noted that increased population growth and the rise in crime and violence are increasing the workload of nurses. She added that amid the nurses' efforts in going beyond their call of duty, several of them are still being attacked.
ATTACKS
Meanwhile, a nurse at the Bustamante Children's Hospital for the past 12 years has underscored Lawrence-Campbell's point.
Raising an issue at the Editors' Forum, the nurse, who preferred to remain anonymous, said on November 12, 2004, she fell in the operating room and injured her back and neck.
"I am not saying I am anybody special, but I was told I have to pay the fees for treatment, although I was injured while working on the job," she recalled. She appealed to the authorities at the meeting to look into the matter.
When contacted, a representative of the NAJ told The Gleaner that the case of the Bustamante Hospital nurse was not handled properly.
REPORT THE MATTER
She says in the event this happens, a nurse is asked to fill out an incident report form and report the matter within 24 hours. "The policy is there, the principle is there," said the representative. "Even the nurse admitted she did not follow proper procedures."
Health officials are now looking into the matter.
