The University College of the Cayman Islands this week will officially rename its decade-old School of Nursing in memory of Nurse Ruth Eleanor McLaughlin.
Known to many simply as ‘Matron’, McLaughlin helped to shape the field of nursing in the Cayman Islands, and played a pivotal role in establishing of the first local school of nursing, based at the Cayman Islands Hospital, in the early 1970s.
A press release from UCCI described McLaughlin’s approach to nursing as “revolutionary, emphasising the importance of empathy, compassion, and patient-centric care”.
From Thursday, 4 April, the UCCI nursing school will be known as Ruth Eleanor McLaughlin School of Nursing.
Nursing mentor
During her more than 30 years as a nurse and as chief nursing officer at the Health Services Authority, she acted as a mentor to many and elevated nursing standards in Cayman.
Spearheaded by McLaughlin, the first School of Nursing was set up in 1971, at a time when it was difficult to hire qualified nurses from abroad and locals faced significant financial hurdles in seeking nursing education overseas.
“Nurse McLaughlin consistently encouraged nursing graduates to pursue further education and professional development for the improvement of the nursing field,” the UCCI release stated. “She advocated tirelessly for better working conditions and the recognition of nursing as a valued profession.
“Her efforts led to the creation of the Cayman Islands Nurses Association, where she served as an advisor and was later honoured with a life membership.”
Her contributions to nursing, healthcare and the community were recognised in 1979 with an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours.
Chairman of the board of governors at UCCI, Gilbert McLean, said the renaming exercise had evolved from a petition to Cabinet.
“I am delighted that we are once again so fittingly recognising another Caymanian who contributed to building the Cayman Islands with all the amenities we enjoy today. Ruth Eleanor McLaughlin stands tall among those iconic heroes and as chairman of the board I am grateful for the opportunity to honour her,” McLean said in the release.
President and CEO Robert Robertson said UCCI was “incredibly proud to recognize Nurse Ruth McLaughlin’s monumental contributions to nursing in the Cayman Islands”, adding that the renaming the school in her honour was a “fitting tribute to her legacy and an inspiration for our future nursing professionals”.
The renaming ceremony will take place at UCCI’s Sir Vassel Johnson Hall at 6pm on 4 April 2024.
Among the guests will be Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, Minister of Health Sabrina Turner, former nursing educator at the Cayman Islands LPN Programme Hyacinth Rose, and former MLA and family member of Nurse McLaughlin, Lucille Seymour.
Members of the public who wish to attend the renaming ceremony are encouraged to register by emailing [email protected].
Healthcare symposium
The first public event after that ceremony will be a healthcare symposium at the newly renamed facility the following day.
The first Biennial International Nursing and Midwifery Research Symposium on Friday, 5 April, is designed to foster the advancement of innovation and excellence in healthcare, organisers said.
UCCI has invited nurses, doctors, other health professionals, and community members to participate in the symposium, which is titled ‘The Challenges and Opportunities for Nursing and Midwifery in the 21st Century’.
Robertson said this inaugural symposium represented “a significant step towards fostering innovation and excellence in nursing and midwifery, aligning with our commitment to healthcare education and research. We look forward to welcoming healthcare professionals and community members to celebrate the contribution that our nurses have made to the Cayman Islands.”
Quida Johnson-Shirley, director of the School of Nursing, described the symposium as a milestone for the school.
“It reflects our dedication to advancing the field through research and collaboration. We look forward to engaging with professionals from around the world to share insights and strategies for overcoming the challenges facing our profession today,” she said.
Related Videos
