Stepping beyond the confines of the hospital, Nurse Sabrina Critchlow has discovered a profound sense of purpose and fulfillment by weaving the threads of empathy into the fabric of her nursing practice.
Nurse Sabrina Critchlow
A nurse attached to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), Sabrina said her passion for helping others stems from a deep-rooted desire to make a positive impact on people’s lives.
FROM POUDEROYEN TO DEMERARA REGIONAL HOSPITAL TO IDCE
A native of Pouderoyen, on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD), Sabrina’s educational journey began at Shirley Field Nursery and continued through Malgre Tout Primary, Patentia Secondary, and West Demerara Secondary.
During her formative years, Sabrina faced a number of hurdles, but despite those challenges, she never let go of her academic aspirations, holding onto the dream that she couldn’t fulfill as a child.
Now, at the University of Guyana’s Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE), Nurse Critchlow is ardently pursuing her academic goals.
Nurse Critchlow
This decision is a testament to her determination to overcome past obstacles and fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a Registered Nurse (RN).
With the support of my family, I am now able to complete my education in order to become a registered nurse.
CHALLENGES INTO NURSING
The West Bank resident shared that she joined the medical field by helping out at the Versailles Health Centre before moving on to work at the West Demerara Regional Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her journey into nursing, however, was not without its challenges. Despite her deep-seated desire to help others, she initially grappled with discomfort in handling situations involving blood.
I never felt comfortable handling blood, open wounds, or other such situations. I finally felt motivated to start tackling all of the worries I had been avoiding my entire life in 2019 after learning that my mother had diabetes and nearly lost one of her feet.
The Nurse posited that her passion for helping others stems from a profound desire to make a positive impact on people’s lives during their most vulnerable moments.
It’s incredibly fulfilling to be in a position where I can offer care, support, and comfort to individuals during some of their most vulnerable moments. The joy of nursing lies in the ability to connect with patients on a human level, to listen to their concerns, and to provide both physical and emotional support.
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 outbreak, Sabrina continued her work at West Demerara Regional Hospital, where she formed lasting connections with colleagues and had the opportunity to help those in need.
This 44-year-old nurse’s dedication extends beyond her daily responsibilities. She actively participated in outreaches, finding joy in assisting those in need in diverse settings.
Helping individuals in various locations has been quite incredible; you get to know and engage with a variety of people with varying relationships and beliefs.
However, it was her work on Christmas Day that brought back poignant memories of her mother’s previous holidays spent in the hospital.
It was a terrific experience helping those who were fairly certain to be at home with their loved ones, but working on Christmas Day honestly brought up a lot of memories of my mom’s previous Christmas spent in the hospital.
Nurse Critchlow during a recent outreach.
Looking ahead, Sabrina said:
My main objective is to finish the course I’m doing at the University of Guyana so that I can continue and get my master’s degree, which will enable me to advance in my organization and help more patients in many fields.
