Nurses focus on leadership at Annual Nursing Conference

Nurses across the Cayman Islands, and a few from the region, received the opportunity to connect with each other and share their expertise at the 10th Annual International Nursing Conference.Hosted by the Cayman Islands Nursing Association (C.I.N.A.), the conference was held on 28-30 June, 2016 at the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort. The theme was “Leadership is Every Nurse’s Business”.The event was well attended and attracted nurses from different areas of specializations within both the private and public sector. Two nurses visiting from Bermuda were among the attendees.President of C.I.N.A. Sharon Buckley Omier said, “We chose the theme of leadership because it was consistently identified as a need in the role that we play as nurses. The nurses always appreciate the opportunity to share knowledge of their respective specializations, clinics and patient care methods. It also permitted them to celebrate their roles and the part that they play in the leadership of health services,” she said.The conference commenced on Tuesday, 28th June 2016 with a day-long Leadership Development Workshop presented by Dr. Carol Biggs of Baptist Health International and Dr. Hazel Brown of the Health Services Authority (HSA).It continued on Wednesday, 29 June and Thursday, 30 June to feature over 20 interactive sessions. These sessions explored a variety of topics including “Impact of Temperament on Stress Management” by Miriam Foster of the Family Resource Centre, “Zika” by Timothy McLaughlin of the HSA, “Vaccination of Healthcare Workers Against Influenza” by Martin McKenzie of the HSA, “What determines a person’s sex?” by Dr. James Robertson of TrinCay and “Travel Health” by Annie K Price of the HSA.Janice Mullings George, one of the nurses from Bermuda, expressed that the conference was extremely beneficial. “My experience at the 2016 Conference was both life changing and inspirational! The information shared was timely and left me looking forward to next year’s conference and thinking about how many others I would love to have join me from Bermuda. It was awesome!” she shared.Ms. Buckley Omier stated that she was pleased nursing professionals got to engage in meaningful discussions in a comfortable setting and arrived at the understanding that they are all leaders.She thanked all participants, including sponsors HSA, Broward Health International, Baptist Health International (South Florida), Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute, Walden University, Cancer Treatment Centers of America and The Heart Health Centre.