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Regarding viability of Guyana healthcare
Dear Editor,
This missive is being penned in my capacity as a health professional whose work has spanned 2 continents, three countries, six decades, and with deep natal ties to Guyana and a longstanding commitment to safe, evidence-based nursing education and patient care.
Guyana stands at a pivotal moment in the development of its health system. The announcement of a new hybrid nursing programme—developed in partnership with the World Health Organization and supported by regional training collaboration in Brazil signals an important commitment to strengthening the national workforce. I acknowledge and commend the Government’s effort to strengthen the national health workforce through the introduction of the new hybrid nursing programme developed in collaboration with the World Health Organization and supported by training partnerships in Brazil, as well as the use of online platforms such as Coursera.
The country’s present healthcare system bears testimony to the fact that it is past time and imperative that the number of nurses be increased. However, there are significant questions regarding patient safety, clinical supervision and educational quality given that 800 registered nurses are expected to graduate in a single cycle. Nursing education is not solely an academic exercise; it is a practice-based profession that depends heavily on supervised clinical exposure, mentorship, and progressive competency development. The rapid expansion of cohort size raises several critical questions:
Accreditation and Quality Assurance, Clinical Supervision Ratio, Clinical Placement Capacity:
Do hospitals and community health settings have the capacity to accommodate such a large influx of trainees without compromising patient care?
Faculty Preparedness and Support:
What measures ensure that tutors—newly trained or otherwise—are adequately supported to deliver a curriculum of this scale?
A new hybrid programme should realistically plan for 20-30 graduates per session in their first year to maintain high-quality clinical training and adequate student support, allowing the cohort size to grow as the programme matures.
While expanding the workforce is a national priority, quality cannot be compromised. The safety of patients, the readiness of nurses and the long-term viability of Guyana’s healthcare system should all be considered when evaluating the programmes success not just the quantity of graduates. Guyana can create a workforce that is not only bigger but also more resilient. This necessitates careful preparation, gradual expansion, and a steadfast dedication to nursing education and excellence.
I offer these reflections in the spirit of partnership, professional responsibility, and deep concern for the health and safety of the people of my Guyana “EL DORADO”.
Respectfully,
Yvonne Sam
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