With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) to the profession, nursing graduands from Northern Caribbean University (NCU) are being urged to maintain their humanity and morality in caring for patients.
“Don’t let the algorithms define your worth! Stay human in a world that is built for machines! Don’t forget to speak to the patients’ souls,” said Dr Jacqueline L. Lyons Lloyd, operator of Dr Lloyd’s Surgical Practice, in delivering the keynote address at the annual Nurses’ Pinning and Thanksgiving ceremony, held at NCU Mandeville Campus on Thursday.
Lyons Lloyd advised the 75 nursing graduands to resist behaviours that are degrading to themselves, their patients and others. While acknowledging the value of AI in the profession, she insisted on nurses “adding the human touch”.
Referring to the biblical story of the Good Samaritan, Lyons Lloyd affirmed that caring for patients should be at a standard level of high care, regardless of ethnicity, social divisions, classism, racism and prejudice. She declared that the true nursing professional is an advocate for patients’ rights and care, even if it is inconvenient. She said the profession is about “caring with your heart and healing with your hands”.
“Every encounter we make is an opportunity to witness and to enhance someone else’s life spiritually, physically, socially and emotionally – holistically,” she added.
Lyons Lloyd reminded the soon-to-be registered nurses that professionalism and integrity involved showing up punctual and prepared. She encouraged them to keep up with trends and research in nursing and not take the mediocre view of seeing their calling as “only a job”.
She said their integrity requires them to be selfless and to do what is right, even when others are not looking.
“Your conduct is the offspring of your character,” she emphasised before reminding the graduands that “God is watching!”
The medical doctor cited examples of ways in which nurses do not always practise integrity, professionalism or humanity. She challenged the graduands to live up to high standards, to listen in order to respond, to be respectful, to adhere to appropriate dress code on the job, and to never ignore patients – particularly the vulnerable and needy. She added that patients’ fears, beliefs and decisions should always be respected.
In his remarks to the graduands, Professor Lincoln Edwards, president of NCU, said he was proud of their resilience, tenacity and drive. He noted that the nursing programme at NCU not only prepares graduates “to serve within the helping profession, but it provides the kind of holistic education that facilitates your foray into various areas of endeavours in the service industry, in leadership, in education, in administration, etc.
Several nursing students received awards: Ashley Scott for the Most Outstanding Nursing Student in Theory; Sereena Williamson for the Most Outstanding Student in the Clinical Area; and Brenda-Kaye Bartley for the Most Proficient Student in the Nursing Class.
There were also presentations to faculty, staff and alumni of the NCU Nursing Department.
The Administrative Excellence Award went to the department’s administrative assistant, Erica Fearon. Humbled by the unexpected presentation of the award, she discreetly shed tears of joy as the nursing graduands roared her praises.