^{In photo from left to right: Sharon Lakhan-King – TTRNA Education and Research officer,}

^{Sherma Alexander - GM Nursing of NWRHA, Idi Stuart – TTRNA President, Beryl Brewster – TTRNA Academy Manager}

The Trinidad and Tobago Registered Nurses Association (TTRNA) congratulates Ms. Sherma Alexander on becoming the General Manager of Nursing and Patient Services (commonly called GM Nursing) of the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA). Ms. Alexander  comes with a wealth of administrative experience, both locally and internationally. Just prior to her appointment as GM Nursing at NWRHA, Ms. Alexander was the Nursing Administrator of San Fernando General Hospital.

TTRNA was pleased to hold our first official meeting independent of the rest of the NWRHA executive, with the GM Nursing on Wednesday 15th January, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. During a meeting with the GM Nursing and members of TTRNA, the following were discussed:

1. The need to engage nurse managers in management training which incorporates industrial relations information and practice.
2. TTRNA's program proposal designed to meet the need. The program is expected to be rolled out by the TTRNA's Nursing Academy, which is poised to be the external equivalent of a Professional Development Unit for nursing personnel in the RHAs, through a mix of in-person classroom and online sessions.
3. TTRNA also presented an orientation program for newly recruited nursing personnel which aims to assist these new nurses, who have been out of the clinical environment for two-plus years while they are awaiting employment. It is hoped that this program could be conducted prior to the nurses being assigned to wards in order to bring them up to par. A Mentorship and Preceptorship program to compliment the Orientation program was also touched on. The program would be followed by a probationary period where the nurses would be evaluated based on established professional and clinical standards.
4. TTRNA proposed holding quarterly meetings at an agreed upon venue on the compound to update nursing personnel on these and other matters affecting Nursing Personnel.

The discussions were cordial and fruitful and a commitment was given by both parties towards the initiatives discussed. TTRNA looks forward to working with the GM Nursing as we continue our goal of improving healthcare in Trinidad and Tobago.