Jessica Cuffy-David receives First Elaine Pringles Nurse of the Biennium Award on August 22, 2016

​The first ever Dominica Nurses Association Elaine Pringles Nurse of the Biennium Award was awarded to Jessica Cuffy-David at the Dominica Nurses Association fifty-ninth anniversary award ceremony on Monday 22 August 2016. The award is given biennially in honour of the only living executive member of the first board of the Nurses’ Association, Elaine Pringle, who held the position of secretary.
 
President of the Dominica Nurses Association (DNA) Debra Philip said the award is given to a nurse who has demonstrated exceptional performance in nursing practice, professionalism & leadership qualities & who has served in the profession for at least five years; to encourage nurses to continuously strive for excellence in the nursing profession; to recognize a nurse who has been giving of his or her best & shown outstanding improvement in fulfilling his or her role over the past 2 years. The DNA will sponsor the awardee to attend the Caribbean Nurses Organization’s Conference.
 
Mrs. Cuffy-David, a registered nurse for twenty-three years who has been specializing as a theater nurse since 2006 graduated from the University of the West Indies with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing with first class honors. She received an award from the Ministry of Health for Professional Excellence in Operating Theater Nursing and is now acting ward sister of the Operating Theater.
 
Philip said during the citation, Mrs. Cuffy-David has been a “dynamic” member of the DNA serving on the executive from 2011 to 2013 as secretary. “She attends meetings and seminars and participates in most activities organized by the association, and represented the DNA at the last Caribbean Nurses conference which was held in Saint Lucia. She takes initiative, she is assertive, she demonstrates ethical practice, performs competently, understand her role and applies nursing principles effectively; she displays administrative abilities, participates in continuous learning and demonstrates application of knowledge.”
 
DNA President Debra Philip said of Mrs. Pringle “she is our nursing icon. She had a passion for nursing, and as a result, she was active in the affairs of nursing, nurses and the profession.” She was also a founding member of the DNA which was established on 22nd August 1957, following the inauguration of the Caribbean Nurses Organization’s on 17th May 1957.