Nurses become leaders and managers |14 May 2009

This is an action-learning plan to develop nurses as effective leaders and managers in a changing health environment.

The training offered skills such as leadership, negotiation, effective management, media relations and mentoring.

Elsia Sinon, national coordinator of the LFC, said proper skills needed to be developed, and the course was also a chance to address issues concerning management and leadership.

This was the second batch of nurses to take part in such training after a first group of 15 graduated in 2007. The course was organised by the International Council for Nurses (ICN), the Nurses’ Association of the Republic of Seychelles (Nars) and the Ministry of Health and Social Development.

Attending the graduation ceremony at the National Institute of Education on Tuesday were Minister for Health and Social Development Marie-Pierre Lloyd and other officials from her ministry, Minister for Education Bernard Shamlaye and Minister for Employment and Human Resources Development Macsuzy Mondon, who is patron of Nars.

Also present were the LFC’s regional coordinator from the ICN Francis Supparayen, president of Nars Marie-Antoinette Hoareau, the World Health Organisation’s liaison officer Cornelia Atsyor, leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Wavel Ramkalawan and MNA Michel Marie, mentors, trainers and relatives of the graduates.

During the ceremony, mentors and trainers were presented with certificates, and a token of appreciation was given to Mr Supparayen.

Mrs Hoareau also received a gift from the nurses, and when addressing the audience she congratulated the trainees and thanked all the partners for making the course a success.

In her opening speech, Mrs Lloyd said nurses, especially those in senior positions, are being challenged by the rapidly changing healthcare environment.

“It is indeed in such times of transformation that we need the best leaders we can have,” she said.

She told the nurses to show leadership and to remain leaders in times of change. She also called on them not to relax their efforts to bring about changes that are needed to improve the quality of healthcare in Seychelles and to strengthen the nursing profession.

“This training programme highlights a ground-breaking form of imparting knowledge and skills in leadership and change management,” she added.

Mrs Lloyd said the course is a different way in which Seychelles can prepare nurses to lead their profession.

She then thanked the ICN, which has been a pioneer in leadership training and skills development for nurses.

Also addressing those present, Mr Supparayen said the LFC programme prepares nurses to take up leadership roles so they can address challenges, especially in times of change.

The audience were then entertained with poem and song performances by graduate Huguette Vidot and mentor Vincent Isaac.

The graduates received their badges and were presented with their certificates by Mrs Mondon and chief nursing officer Bella Henderson.