The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

Nurse Joanna Curry got the chance to shine and make her country proud as she was presented with the prestigious Presidential Award at the National Nurse Empowerment and Leadership Conference, held recently in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The fourth annual conference invited nurses, nursing executives and educators, CRNAS, ARNPS, nursing students and other health professionals to the Signature Grand Hall to empower, inspire and motivate nurses to serve, lead and succeed as they continue to advocate for excellent patient care.

Organisers noted one outstanding highlight of the event was the motivational presentation by veteran nurse and vice president of the Nurses Association of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas (NACB), Nursing Officer Joanna Curry, RN, MSN. In her speech, she called on her fellow nurses to persist in selfless service, leadership and community involvement in order to achieve success in their careers.

Sharing Joanna's success was American nurse, Dr Indira Piquion, who also received a Presidential Award for outstanding presentation, leadership and dedication to patient care.

Eva M Francis, executive director and founder of the Nurse Empowerment and Leadership Institute, described the conference as a powerful event that attracted over 200 healthcare professionals from across the United States, particularly Florida.

"This gathering was also attended by approximately 27 Bahamian nurses from Freeport and Nassau. Also representing the Caribbean nurses were members of the Jamaica Nurses Association Florida Chapter, Trinidad and Tobago Nurses Association, Global Nurses Association and the Haitian-American Nurses Association," said Ms Francis.

Topics addressed included: servant leadership, entrepreneurship, finding joy in the nursing career, empowerment, thriving and flourishing in a multigenerational era, and more.

"Through the different curated panels for each topic, the audience and the speakers generated a forum whereby trials, triumphs, healings and achievements within the nursing career were discussed in great detail," said Ms Francis.

The conference concluded with a presentation where Bahamian nurse Shavonne Deveaux was recognised for being the first international nurse to register for the conference. Also attending this year's conference was past Presidential Award recipient Bahamian nurse Dorothea Francis.

The National Nurse Empowerment and Leadership Institute has already announced the date of the fifth annual conference: Saturday, July 25, 2020, in Fort Lauderdale.