The LASCO Chin Foundation, alongside the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) have announced the finalists for the 2023 LASCO/NAJ Nurse and Student Nurse of the Year awards.

The awards, which recognises and celebrates the outstanding achievements of Jamaican nurses, will be presented to a nurse who has demonstrated exceptional dedication, compassion, and innovation in their field. The award ceremony is slated to occur on July 21 at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel and will be held under the theme, ‘Our Nurses, Our Future’.

The finalists for the Nurse category are: Betty-Ann Campbell of the Spanish Town Hospital, Renae Foster of the Black River Hospital, Abigail James from the Black River Hospital, Nadja Brown from the Mandeville Regional Hospital, Roshelle Mendez from the Mandeville Regional Hospital, Shantal Remekie from the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), and Inga Hunter-Martin who works at the Hope Institute in St. Andrew.

The finalists in the Student Nurse of the Year category, who have shown exceptional promise and dedication, are: Bobbie-Ann Collins from the Excelsior Community College School of Nursing, Derron Jackson from the Excelsior Community College School of Nursing, Donica Chambers from the Knox Community College School of Nursing, Judith Thomas from the Knox Community College School of Nursing, Nikala Stewart from the University of the West Indies (UWI) School of Nursing, Shanice Burris from the Brown’s Town Community College School of Nursing, and Nastasia Simms from the Brown’s Town Community College School of Nursing.

Seen as health heroes, the nurses and student nurses have continued to exhibit their unwavering commitment and have made significant contributions to the healthcare sector. Their dedication to the well-being of their patients, communities and wider society serves as an inspiration.

These talented individuals represent the future of nursing in Jamaica, and their commitment to excellence and compassion is a testament to the quality of nursing education in the country.

For the 2022 -2023 period, the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ)/LASCO Nurse of the Year winner was Alicia Adamson. She is the Nurses Manager at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital. La-Daniel Campbell, student at Brown’s Town Community College School of Nursing, received the NAJ/LASCO Student Nurse of the Year.

Award, prizes, and paying tribute

The LASCO/NAJ Nurse of the Year will be awarded a cash prize of $200,000, while the first runner-up will receive $150,000, the second runner-up will be presented with $100,000, and the Student Nurse of the Year will receive a cash prize of $100,000.

Additionally, the finalists will be recognised with additional prizes, and the winners from both categories will collectively receive over half a million dollars in cash prizes.

Leading up to the awards ceremony, the finalists are expected to participate in Nurses Week activities and also pay tribute to the late Lascelles Chin, founder of the LASCO Chin Foundation.

In 2020, he shared that, “LASCO is resolute in our support for our men and women who continue to commit their hearts and hands to the health of our nation. We are grateful for their devotion. We will continue to go the extra mile to consistently uplift and recognise their stewardship.”

The LASCO Chin Foundation and the Nurses Association of Jamaica have continued to demonstrate their commitment to recognising and uplifting the nursing profession. For over a decade, they have dedicated their efforts to honouring the invaluable contribution of nurses to the healthcare sector in Jamaica.

Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton, has consistently emphasised the importance of nurses in providing quality healthcare. He has acknowledged the critical role that nurses play in the delivery of public health services and has pledged ongoing support to ensure their professional growth and development.

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