Celebrating the lives of all pnps', who have gone beyond the call of dutyn.B This page is dedicated to all pnps'. you can place your announcments here. "The human resources mix is one of the most valuable resources in the delivery of mental health services in Belize. Sufficient and appropriate mix of personnel helps to ensure the provision of efficient services prevents team members from being overburdened. While the number of Psychiatric Nurses may appear to be sufficient, they currently perform many duties, including clinical, administrative, managerial, and emergency. The same applies to the psychiatrist. The lack of other mental health care providers, such as child and adolescent psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and therapists, increases the demand for the services of the PNPs and for the lone psychiatrist. There is a clear need to expand the mental health team to include a wider range of skills and competencies related to the delivery of mental health care. Fifteen PNPs are deployed to out-patient clinics in the districts and five PNPs, along with practical nurses, provide the inpatient services at Rockview and the Acute Psychiatric Unit. Over the past 12 years formal training has been provided for two cohorts of PNPs and one cohort of PNAs. The Ministry of Health is considering training another cohort of PNAs. These formal training programs are done only as necessary, and depend on multiple factors, such as availability of trainers and staff.
Every year there is a two-day training/meeting for PNPs organised by the Ministry of Health to discuss the mental health plan and related issues. This allows for group cohesiveness and for continuing medical education. In addition, monthly staff meetings at Rockview and the Belmopan Acute Unit currently include educational sessions for all staff members in these locations. In the districts, training is done by the PNPs with the CNAs, public health staff and other health care providers, and during the psychiatrist’s visits sessions are organized for the medical staff.
Through the partnership with Homewood Health Centre, a private psychiatric hospital in Canada, the PNPs have the opportunity for 8 weeks’ exposure/training at the Homewood facilities. All expenses related to these trainings are covered by Homewood, and the scheduled is customized to suit the training needs of the staff. These arrangements are covered in a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Health and Homewood Health Centre; so far 12 PNPs, 1 medical practitioner and 1 psychiatrist have participated." ( Belize Mental Health Policy 2008)
The Psychiatric Nurse is the fulcrum upon which Belize’s Mental Health System rests
OUR PNPS' HAVE GONE BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY Profiles: Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners Iveth Balan PNP at Port Loyola Health Center, in Belize City. Human resources are scarce, but nurses do quite a bit. Being a PNP is of great responsibility. It is through our daily contact with patients, clients and their families that we keep on learning. The PNPs in Belize is a very cohesive group. There is a very good communication between all of us. Mental health is a beautiful professional specialty. At times people cannot recognize mental illness. Up until very recently, many people tried to hide mental illness, especially inside the family. And that is a problem because help is not sought. Clients and patients do not want people to know their illness due to stigma and discrimination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Paula Murry PNP from Guyana. Murry has worked in Belize since 2002, including two years at Rockview Hospital We get through very well each day. We love what we do. Many patients come to me as if I were a member of their extended family. And that is very rewarding. It is true that there is a lot of stigma still. However, a lot of families have come to realize that their members need their support. I feel really confident that there is a lot of competence within this overall health team; the psychiatrist, the mental health association, the PNPs... We are a united body that keeps pushing for the advancement of mental health. I see a lot of progress right here in Belize. I really see that what is happening here is unique, and not only that: it is actually working! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Agostina Elipo PNP since 1991 Before becoming a PNP, my Chief Nurse at the Old Belize Hospital told me about the first training program for PNPs in Belize. She told me that I had the right fiber to be one. And I said: Yes! Even as a general nurse I always wanted to know more about human behavior. No regrets. In terms of statistics we have seen more and more patients over the years and I believe that is because they now have an understanding that mental health needs to be treated and cared for just as any other health condition. They know full well that they are not "crazy." Remember: many years ago we used to go to homes with patients in shackles. Rockview Hospital had a lot of physical restrains also. But training started to happen. Even though you might see that the structure now might not be that different, what has changed is the staff attitudes and knowledge that lead to improving the care for the mentally ill. A whole lot has happened with Dr. Cayetano. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eleanor Bennett PNP since 1993 and on her way to become a Medical Doctor. In 1988 I remember there was an old clinic, with a social worker going all around town. And then, there was Rockview Hospital: lots of patients; dozens and dozens of patients heavily medicated, with nothing to do, with no occupational therapy. Things are way different today. First, we have a psychiatric service in all clinics; and in health centers in the community. What we have also seen now are patients that are being admitted to general wards. Initially many doctors resisted us, the PNPs. When people sought to be attended, they did not call us: they used to call the police. That is not happening anymore. And I want to think that the change has come about because of us being there. Here in the Caribbean we struggle with the issue of transition from inpatient to outpatient, and what comes in the middle: stigma and discrimination. This is a huge barrier to treatment. And treatment does not just mean hospitalization. Efforts in Belize and elsewhere have to come hand in hand with advocating for the reduction of stigma, not only within the general population but most especially, amongst health workers and health professionals. It is very important to strengthen the support from the community as well. I think that if there is anything that can be done for psychiatry in Belize, Dr. Cayetano can do it. The Pan American Health Organization is also very involved, particularly in the area of training. I am really impressed by the work that has been done in Belize with regards to extending the services into the community. That does not happen in all countries. But there is a lot more that needs to be done. We have to use the limited resources that we have in the very best possible way. I have been very impressed by how open was Dr. Polanco (Director of Health Services with the Ministry of Health, Local Government, Transport and Communications of Belize) on the issue of mental health. Dr. Polanco is reaffirming the importance of mental health. Source: http://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/mentalhealth.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marion Casey PNP For December 2004 The Autobiography of Mrs. Marion Casey By Christine Chiac Mrs. Marion Casey was born on January 3, 1951 in Belize City to Mrs. Rosita Gill and Mr. Albert Gill. Mr. Gill is deceased. Her family members consist of seven people, one male and six female (2 deceased). Mrs. Casey did both her primary and secondary education and also she did her training at the Bliss School of Nursing in Belize City. She got married to Mr. Alfonso Casey on the twenty-fourth (24) of December 1971 at the Roman Catholic Church in Belmopan. She has been blessed with three children, one male and two female. Her son is 31 years old and her daughters are 28 years old and 17 years old respectively. She has five grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Casey have been married for thirty-two years. Her jobs before becoming a psychiatric nurse are general nursing for ten years and ten years as a mid-wife. Her decision to be psychiatric nurse was something easy because she thought why not gives ten more years to psychiatric nursing. She became a psychiatric practitioner nurse in the year of 1993 at Western Regional Hospital. During her career as a nurse she encountered numerous problems but namely a few which are children/adult who have being abused/raped, people who suffer from emotional/behavioral problem, martial relationship depression, anxiety and people with schizophrenia. Nurse Casey says that if people don’t know what good mental health is, how they can handle stress in everyday life. It’s important to let people know what good mental health is. That’s her reason to why mental health is important to her. She is a counselor who is a strong advocate for people, who suffer from mental health illness, or people who suffer from different illness and people living with HIV/Aids, etc. These are her roles of being at the Western Regional Hospital, a nurse, a counselor or friend towards her patients. She never believes that she is risking anything but she knows she has been helping people to know that nurses care and likes them, someone to support and love them. Patients respond to how they feel which could be positive or negative and also depending on how they’re being treated by their counselors or given medication. Nurse Casey would like to acknowledge a few people who have helped in her life whichever possible way; small or big. The first acknowledgement is to Sister Mary Andretta from Saint Catherine Convent. The reason for her to be acknowledged is because she assisted her in many ways. She was being assisted to cross her bridge, being supported both financially/physically, help her to earn her secondary education, laid her foundation. She is very grateful to Sister Mary and also Sister Mary was like a mother to her. She is acknowledging three other persons. A good friend/family Mrs. Millard Peyrifittie, her aunt Ms. Catherine Reed and also her mother, Mrs. Rosita Gill. There are two role models in the life of Mrs. Casey. 1. Sister Mary Andretta from Saint Catherine Convent for she was a dedicated woman. 2. Mrs. Audrey Counterny who was being caring, trustworthy, a good advocator and a respected person on all her way. She always wanted to be like those two women, she says that she did take on some of their great qualities. Her greatest moment in life was getting married; having children and how really looking back from many struggles she made accomplishments, from wanting so much to be a nurse, then a mid-wife, then a staff nurse and finally a P.N.P. She is very proud of where her career has taken her. Her advice to younger generations: try to stay away from drugs, abstain from sex, put it off until you are mature, married and feel that it’s the right time, use a condom if you cannot wait, get involved in church, listen to your parents, guardian or a relative and also talk with them. According to Nurse Casey, alcohol does not make anyone feel better; it is not a good practice to drink, maybe temporarily, but the affect effects is not good, it only depresses you, so you could talk about it and find some psychological way. Talk to your friend or to your parents this is an advice for those girls, who are being affected by alcohol. “ Look at first how you feel for example do what you do from the heart, do not be in it for money, be in it because you want to improve people” this is her advice to those who are studying to be nurse and to those who have started their careers as nurses. She has presented different topics on psychological education, she also supported them by building their self-esteem, by organizing monthly meeting, fundraising, to create awareness, she has also provided little snacks after meetings, and her support towards both the Belmopan Consumers Association and Mental Health Patients has been great. Nurse Casey asserts that mental health would be a “priority” that our Minister would care and improve the condition of our people so that the mentally ill persons would be respected for their rights. This is their dream she would want to come true for Belize. Don’t judge a book by its cover is a phrase many people use, have different meaning is the importance to get to know someone before posing judgment on them never, never go on face view. When we asked if she was happy about being a P.N.P. Her reply was YES, truly satisfied and happy. Our newsletter is presenting its first autobiography and we picked Mrs. Casey. She was asked how she feels being our first recipient. She smiled and said that she is okay with it because this is her third interview, she likes to be honest and it takes her back to look at how she feels about what she has done, to be proud of her accomplishment. If you had three wishes granted to you, what would be your wishes? These are her wishes: 1. To be a child psychiatrist 2. To be younger once again so she will be able to give more often and keep on working. 3. To be wealthy so she will be able to give houses, jobs etc. to those entire unfortunate person. When she retired from a being a P.N.P, what would she miss and why? She will miss her co-workers at W.R.H. Doctor Claudina Cayetano and also she will miss her beautiful patients who have made her laugh and cry throughout the years. These are the stories of Marion Casey or Nurse Casey. A woman with many struggles she has been through to make her what she is today. We are thankful for the many deeds she has done to many people whether it was at the Western Regional Hospital and the surrounding villages such as Cotton Tree, Valley of Peace, More Tomorrow, Saint Matthews, Santa (Saint) Margaret and many more. May God bless nurse Casey, her families and friends who stood for her and understood her as a woman with many work or as a tireless woman although she comes from work or from home. If you are being born with a talent, it’s something rewarding, it’s not for sale. Hold on to it tight if you can and be great care with it 
Nurse Marion Casey ( L ) doing what she does best
|
Practitioners 
