130 nurse managers coursed in two-day leadership workshop
SOME 120 NURSE MANAGERS from across the twin-island St Kitts and Nevis Federation participated in a two-day training exercise designed to provide them with enhanced skills and strategies to function in the ever-changing healthcare sector.
“We believe that investing in our nurse managers’ professional development is crucial to providing high-quality patient care,” said Principal Nursing Officer, Dr. Rondalyn Dennis-Bradshaw.
The workshop was facilitated by a team of experienced facilitators, including Ms. Deirdre Richardson, CEO & Founder of Richardson Business Solutions; Mr. Colin Gunthorpe, Pastor, Therapist, and Life Coach; and Mr. Douglas Wattley, Management Consultant will spearhead the workshop.
“The leadership workshop is an excellent opportunity for our nurse managers to enhance their leadership skills and take their leadership to the next level,” Dr Dennis-Bradshaw stressed.
She stressed that “equally important is the seeking out of opportunities to be trained in specialised areas of nursing such as Intensive Care; Accident and Emergency (A&E); Mental Health; Hemodialysis; Family Nurse Practitioners; and of course, Nurse Educators,” Dennis-Bradshaw noted.
Participants were involved in various interactive sessions, including leadership and team-building exercises; effective communication; and strategies for managing change. They also had opportunities to tap into the facilitators’ vast wealth of experience and knowledge in leadership development.
Dennis-Bradshaw said participants will be coursed in specialised areas, vital for their professional growth and development in the health sector.
Ministry of Health’s Director of Operations, Mrs. Lindsey Maynard, told participants that as Nurse Managers, the expectation is to demonstrate outstanding leadership skills that will not only further the overall goal of service excellence in patient care but also recognise and respect the difference in the individuals they would lead.
“It also means that you would have to be strong believers and delivers of structure; be adaptable to change; be able to give meaningful input to encourage systematic improvements and be able to enforce policies that will guide the success of your output to the institutions and its stakeholders,” Maynard said.
Prime Minister, Dr. Terrance Drew, who also holds the health portfolio, told the 130 participants without leadership is no forward movement.
“I have looked at it and asked [myself] what is leadership? Those who have studied it will tell you that leadership is influence,” said PM Drew.
“If you are not influencing anyone, if you’re not influencing yourself, you are really not a leader. You may have a position where you are given a title, but if you can’t influence those who you are supposed to lead, then you are not really leading,” Drew noted.
“Leaders care about those they lead; managers care about getting the work done only. Leaders care about how your day is going; managers don’t care. ‘Have you done the work?’ Leaders care that you are given an opportunity to be open and to be transparent and to bring your ideas to the fore; managers care only about their idea, and that is why I think it is timely that we have a session like this. A session in leadership,” the PM counselled.
The leadership workshop is part of broader plans by the Ministry of Health to continue investing in the professional development of its staff to provide the best possible care to its patients while transforming healthcare in the Federation.
