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CHC nurses urged to ‘hang in there’
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Posted on Jun 15 2012
The newly installed president of the CNMI Nurses Association is asking her peers to always keep their competence and professionalism as they go about doing their daily work at the public hospital.
“In times of challenges like this, I ask my fellow nurses to keep their competence and professionalism. They’re doing an important job every day…and I ask that they hang in there,” Rowena Alturas said in her message yesterday to the hundreds of nurses on island.
Alturas said that nurses oftentimes are neglected and overlooked yet they continue to serve with passion and with strong commitment to patient safety.
Acting governor Eloy Inos proclaimed the week of June 17 through 23 as CNMI Nurses Week in recognition of their contribution to the healthcare industry and to the Commonwealth community in general.
In a ceremony held Thursday at the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. office, Inos was joined by chief executive officer Juan N. Babauta and nursing director Leticia Reyes in honoring the islands’ nurses for their sacrifices and for providing quality service to people.
Alturas said the weeklong celebration will be packed with many activities. They will kick off the occasion with a Eucharistic Mass on Sunday at the San Vicente Church followed by their daily continuing education slated for June 18 through 22, from 9:30am to 11:30am each day at the hospital. A special lunch gathering is also scheduled at the end of the continuing education trainings.
The weeklong celebration will be capped by the traditional “Nurses Ball” to be held at Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan. Awards and certificates of appreciation will be handed to honorees. There will also be a raffle and door prizes.
The number of nurses at the Commonwealth Health Center continues to decline due to relocation and resignations.
From 235 nurses two years ago, the public hospital is now down to only 155 and the number may continue to go down by the end of the year. Their exodus is mainly due to uncertainties in their payroll, housing benefits, and the operation of the hospital itself.
