Prince Edward Island’s nurses play a vital role in the delivery of health care, and their expertise, care and comfort is essential to Islanders’ well-being, says Health and Wellness Minister Doug Currie.
“Our nurses deserve recognition each and every day and I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all our Island nurses for the value they bring to patients, their families and our communities across this great province,” said the minister.
National Nurses Week was held May 12-18. National Nurses Week is an opportunity to celebrate the hard work and dedication of Island nurses and recognize the valuable life-saving work they do day in and day out.
In recognition of National Nurses Week, a number of events were scheduled across the province including the presentations of the Marjorie Vessey (Queen Elizabeth Hospital), Kay Lewis (Prince County Hospital) and Emily A. Bryant (Mental Health and Addictions) awards for nursing excellence. The recipients of the awards are:
Kay Lewis Award – Joanne Waddell, maternal child care unit nurse
Marjorie Vessey Award – Sharon Hay, emergency department nurse
Emily A. Bryant Award – Darlene Gallant, psychiatric nurse
“I would like to congratulate all who were nominated for these prestigious awards and thank them for their dedication to the profession, their patients and our health-care system,” said the minister.
Nurses are the largest group of health-care professionals in the Island health care system. The PEI Nurses Union and Association of Registered Nurses of PEI help guide the course for patient-centred, high quality care. The Department of Health and Wellness continues to work with nurses to ensure that their knowledge, experience and practice are fully utilized.