HISTORY AND ACTIVITIES OF THE GUYANESE NURSES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA INC.

In the decades of 1940-1970 there was a shortage of nurses in the U.S.A. At that time for economic reasons and improvement of education and skills, many Guyanese nurses migrated to the U.S.A. Although they readily adjusted to their profession in a foreign land, it was difficult to become acclimated to urban living in these large metropolitan cities. The distance between friends and relatives created a yearning for finding a means by which more frequent social and professional contacts may be made.
On May 10th 1970 a group of ten Guyanese nurses came together in Brooklyn New York to discuss plans for forming an organization. On June 5th 1970, a meeting was convened after the mailing of over three (300) hundred invitations to nurses in the metropolitan area, five nurses responded! They felt very discouraged but their spirits were undaunted. On that same evening The Guyanese Nurses Of America Inc. was established. The officers were elected and Mrs. Esme La Rose became its first president.
Over the past several decades, many contributions were made to the health care system in Guyana and various organizations in the U.S.A and countries in the Caribbean.

MOTTO
UNITY: COOPERATION: PATRIOTISM

MISSION STATEMENT

The Guyanese Nurses Association of America Inc. is committed to being the avenue through which members of the Guyanese community and their descendants in the United States of America and Guyana can be provided with the resources for health, education, professional, and social advancement.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • 1973 – Electrical appliances donated to Florence Nightingale Home for the retired (Aged) nurses in Guyana. Training equipment and other materials donated to the education department of the Public hospital Georgetown.

 

  • 1974-1977 – Contribution to school for physically disabled at Linden Guyana. Complete orthopedic bed unit to Georgetown Hospital. Sponsorship of healthcare seminar in Guyana presented by 10 nurses from this organization.

 

  • 1978 – Donation of seminar folders and stationary to the 11th biennial conference of the Caribbean Nurses Organization hosted by the Guyana Government. Ten members of our Organization attended. Donation of medical and nursing journals and literature to the medical library of the Georgetown Hospital.

 

  • 1979-1980 – Donations to the Uncle Eddie’s Home for the Aged, medical and surgical equipment, thermometers and three (3) Isolettes to the hospitals in Guyana. Toys donated to the pediatric unit of the Georgetown hospital.

 

  • 1981-1992 – The Idele Anderson Scholarship Incentive Award Program was launched. Contributions were made to organizations in the U.S.A. namely Sickle –cell Anemia, Muscular Dystrophy, March of Dimes, United Negro College Fund, Mother Hale House and various religious denominations. We participated in an educational seminar during the Guyanese Nurses Association’s 64th anniversary celebration in Guyana. Topic- AIDS in the Adolescent. A mannequin for anatomy was presented to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

 

  • 1993- 1998 – Thanksgiving baskets to those in need and toys to the children in the pediatric unit of Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center. Several scholarships were awarded to high school and college students. Distribution of Christmas Baskets to Residents in the community.

 

  • 1999-2000 – Health fair held with focus on health education and screenings for common illnesses. Eleven scholarships were awarded to students ranging from high school to graduate school. Distribution of Thanksgiving baskets. Scholarships awarded to nursing Students at Georgetown Hospital School of Nursing, New Amsterdam Hospital School of Nursing and The Charles Rosa School of Nursing. Each School received 2 financial scholarship awards. Educational materials distributed to nursing students in Guyana.

 

  • 2001- 2002 – Four health fairs were held. Dr. Randolph Sampson Scholarship distribution in Guyana:   Georgetown (2), Linden (2), Berbice (2). Distribution of Thanksgiving baskets. Approximately twenty-five hundred dollars ($2500.00) worth of Textbooks and journals disbursed for the new BSc. Nursing program at University of Guyana (UG). Donation of computers by a member to the BSc. Nursing program at UG. The distribution of six (6) scholarships to high school and college students in the USA. Representation in Guyana at the Global Nurses of Guyana Reunion. Several members accompanied Overseas Medical Assistance Team (OMAT), OSHAG and Rugby Congregational Church healthcare giving missions to Guyana. Medical supplies donated to health care facilities in Guyana. Medical supplies were donated to Rugby Congregational church for medical mission to Guyana. (Approximately $2000.00).

 

  • 2003-2005 – Health Fairs x7. Several scholarships to high school and college students-$7,500.00 (2004). Renovation of the Guyanese Nurses Association headquarters in Guyana for a cost of approximately $U.S 6000.00. Two teams of members volunteered for 3 weeks during the flood in Guyana. In collaboration with OMAT raised funds and shipped 15 barrels and crates with medical supplies, medication and personal items to assist during the flood. Distribution of Thanksgiving baskets. Donated money to the Grenadian disaster relief. Financial donation and barrel of children clothing to Alpha house.

 

  • 2006-2010 – Distribution of Thanksgiving baskets, participated and hosted several health fairs in collaboration with other organizations and local health care hospitals. Financial donation to sickle cell program in Guyana. Awarded $31, 450.00 scholarship to students in the USA.

 

  • 2011- 2015  – Co Sponsor of Transcultural Nurses Organization annual symposium, Poster presentation and presenter. Sponsored Guyana’s participation at CNO conference. Contingency of members attended the Caribbean Nurses conference in Brazil. Thanksgiving baskets donated to community residents. Biennial scholarship donations to nursing students in Guyana $3,000 and $52,550.00 awarded in scholarship to students from high school to graduate school in the USA.

 

  • 2016- 2018 – Mentoring program launched. Targeted students from middle school through undergraduate to guide them in various profession and fields. Awarded biennial scholarship to 6 nursing students in Guyana. Ten members Participated and presented at symposium of Guyanese Nurses Association on Nursing Trends and Research. Member presented on mental health and financial donation to Guyana Nurses Association 90th Anniversary Global reunion. Cosponsored the annual transcultural nurses symposium