Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Practical and Enrolled Nurses gathering at the Ministry of Labour's Overseas Employment office on East Street, downtown Kingston yesterday. The nurses were seeking jobs in Canada. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer.

Practical Nurses and Enrolled Nurses who say they are often ostracised by registered nurses and other health care professionals yesterday flocked the offices of the Ministry of Labour in search of jobs in Canada.

About 250 practical and enrolled nurses turned up to be interviewed but only 50 positions are available.

"Enrolled nurses do not get recognition in Jamaica most of the times we are there carrying the burden," an enrolled nurse who requested anonymity told The Gleaner yesterday during the recruitment drive held at the Ministry's East Street offices.

"We are marginalised and it is not fair so I just feel that it is my time to get this work," said the enrolled nurse who has been employed to a hospital in Kingston for eight years.

She noted that it is extremely difficult for them to survive because the pay is small and they are not able to qualify for housing loans.

Another enrolled nurse who spoke with The Gleaner after she did her interview said she was confident that she would get the job. She said she was fed up with the treatment that she got in the hospital where she currently works.

There are approximately 1,000 enrolled nurses in hospitals across the island.

Enrolled nurses function under the directive of registered nurses and assist in giving injections, among other things.

Under the supervision of nursing and medical staff, practical nurses carry out many functions including assisting in preparing patients for treatment and examinations, sterilising and packing instruments for theatre and responding to signal bells/lights to determine patient needs, among other things.

"I am trying my luck because they say nutten try, nutten done," said Lorna Ricketts, an unemployed practical nurse.

Mrs. Ricketts said since graduating from the Eastern School of Practical Nursing in 2005, she is yet to receive a job she has sent out several applications.

"It really hard fi know sey yuh spend thousands a dollars a nursing school and can't get a job," she lamented.

The team from Canada was at the ministry on Friday but did not meet the quota of practical and enrolled nurses that was needed.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com