EMTs and Nursing Attendants Encouraged to Embrace Role as Vital Players in Healthcare
Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 27, 2022 (SKNIS): Dr. Yannick Henry, Pediatrician attached to the Joseph Nathaniel France (JNF) General Hospital, encouraged recently graduated Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Nursing Attendants to embrace their role as vital players in healthcare in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“As you offer yourself in service to others I would like to advise you to review your services as important components to the overall goal of the healthcare system. See your contributions as integral to the overall development of quality healthcare within the Federation. View yourselves as vital players and partners of healthcare,” said Dr. Henry, during the Thursday, May 26 Graduation Ceremony for EMTs –Basic and Nursing Attendants Batch XV. “Understand that as first responders, EMTs play a critical role in their initial contact and treatment of individuals who require services. For Nursing Attendants, your frequent interface with patients within our healthcare institution is also important for advancing the proficient level of care.”
Dr. Henry reminded EMTs and Nursing Attendants that their roles are extremely valuable, therefore, they must be efficient and effective when executing their duties.
“I wish to underscore that what you do is important in the delivery chain of health services in this country. Your role as EMTs and Nursing Attendants is as valuable as those as lab technicians, registered nurses, doctors and anyone else who forms part of this network within the healthcare ecosystem,” he said. “If you were to fail in the execution of your duties we would all be perceived to have failed healthcare. It would never be just an isolated case of the EMT or the Nursing Attendants not performing as required, it would be deemed or perceived as a failure of the entire healthcare system. In this vein, I encourage you to see yourself as important partners on the team and do your part consistently well to aid in the advancement of healthcare development in St. Kitts and Nevis.”
He encouraged them to individually and collectively do their part to achieve the overall objectives of the health sector in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Approximately 40 health professionals in St. Kitts and Nevis successfully completed a six-week training geared towards further equipping them with the relevant knowledge and skills needed to execute their duties efficiently and effectively. Topics covered included professionalism; effective communication; customer service; good work ethics; interpersonal relationships; group dynamics and confidentiality.