Latest update April 18th, 2025 8:12 AM
Nursing students’ action could warrant eviction from hostel
Pieces of human hair and other items at the entrance to Nurse Bhagmania’s room.
A peculiar occurrence at the West Demerara Regional Hospital may be grounds for the administration of the Region Three facility to evict several nursing students from the hostel which they occupy at nominal cost.
The situation has also raised concerns about the quality of nurses attempting to join the health sector, according to Matron of the facility, Rona Merle Persaud.
According to reports reaching this newspaper, instead of simply paying an accommodation fee of $1,000 a month which was re-enforced on Monday last, the students allegedly resorted to performing what Persaud described as a mischievous prank.
She told Kaieteur News yesterday that the students are asked to pay the small fee to assist with the maintenance of the building and the services, including electricity, water and gas stove, that they are afforded at the hostel.
But the students, most of whom are from Region Two, have for almost nine months shirked their payments.
The situation was highlighted recently when hospital officials visited the hostel on Monday.
Matron Rona Merle Persaud
As a result, one of the representatives of the facility, Nurse Jean Bhagmania, was authorised by the administration to mount a payment reminder notice directed at the defaulting students. This was done the following day.
The nurse who also occupies the hostel said that after completing her shift at the hospital on Tuesday, she returned to the hostel around 21:00 hours where she witnessed an unusual scene.
According to the nurse, when she approached her room she saw a collection of what appeared to be human hair, garlic, rice grains, cloves, and other particles scattered at the entrance.
It was also observed that the notice had been torn down.
Nurse Bhagmania said that she immediately informed another hostel representative, following which the police were summoned.
The investigators took photographs of the scene, however, since there were no eyewitnesses to the act, the police were unable to take decisive action.
Regarding the act as unprofessional, Matron Persaud said that the administration intends to have the matter discussed urgently with Director of Training within the Health Ministry, Noel Holder, and Principal Nursing Tutor, Pearl Munroe, as the students come under their purview.
According to the Matron, the situation is very disturbing and suggests that the students do not have the ability to behave in a professional manner.
“What are they trying to tell us? Is it that when they have a problem with somebody they just do what they want. Is this the way they will treat patients?”
She expects that the matter will be dealt with immediately as it represents utter disrespect on the students’ part.
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