Nurses Week kicked off around the globe on Tuesday, May 6, culminating with International Nurses Day on Monday, May 12. May 12th marks the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth, and the aim of the week’s celebrations is to provide healthcare organisations, government officials, patients, and the general public with the opportunity to acknowledge the importance of and express gratitude to nursing professionals in their communities.
Among this year’s celebration is the return of the Eloise Reid Excellence in Nursing Award. Nurse Reid worked at the Health Services Authority (HSA) for 30 years, starting out as a registered nurse and moving on to become one of the organisation’s longest serving chief nursing officers by holding that post for 15 years. Nurse Reid would move on to become the HSA’ CEO in 2004 before retiring in 2005.
The Eloise Reid Excellence in Nursing Award was established by the Cayman Islands Nursing - Association (CINA) and is awarded to registered nurses/midwives in the Cayman Islands who have demonstrated excellence, creativity and commitment to improving nursing practice for the benefit of patients and the people of our Islands. The award was last given out in 2013, and the newly re-established and renamed Cayman Islands Nursing and Midwifery Association (CINMA) wanted to ensure its return.
“As the president of the CINMA I am proud to lead a new board of dedicated and committed individuals who understand the importance of having an established professional association for our islands’ nurses and midwives,” explains Nurse Helen Kirk, President of the CINMA. “Professional associations are important as they play a key role in the education and professional support, guidance and development of its members. They also play an important part in the recognition and promotion of those who have exemplified the values, dedication and work ethic of the profession, as this is very important in not only maintaining the morale of existing nurses, but also an essential component of recruiting talent. As such, bringing back the Eloise Reid Award was a necessary step to ensure that we are moving in the right direction.”
The award is sponsored by the Ministry of Health, Environment & Sustainability and has the full support of the Chief Nursing Officer, Mrs. Felicia McLean. “The Ministry is delighted to help bring back this important award, which is part of a larger recognition programme for our local nurses,” Mrs. McLean explains. “While the recent pandemic and other health related demands have proven how vital nurses are to communities, the reality is that nurses are quite often overlooked. Recognising our nurses is essential to boosting morale, promoting excellence, highlighting the value of the profession, as well as encouraging young people and others who may be considering this career path to take that step. We must do what we can to make our nurses feel valued and appreciated, and to help promote this career to the next generation.”
The winner of the 2025 Eloise Reid Excellence in Nursing Award was announced at the CINMA’s symposium “Nurturing Tomorrow: The Future of Nursing and Midwifery in the Cayman Islands”, held on May 8th at the University College of the Cayman Islands.
“I am proud that the winner of this year’s Eloise Reid Award was given to a young Caymanian nurse who is one of the early graduates of the UCCI Nursing Programme,” Nurse Kirk states. “Shanique Ayres’ energy and enthusiasm for nursing is well known among her peers and colleagues, all of whom report her willingness to go the extra mile for her patients’ wellbeing and to improve their care. While this award has often been given to those who have a much more established career in nursing, the panel believe that Nurse Shanique will become an even more prominent figure in nursing throughout her promising career. It is important for us to not only recognise but also nurture such talent, and I am very proud of Nurse Shanique. All of us have great hopes for what she will bring to our profession.”
“I am grateful to see the efforts by the CINMA and our own Chief Nursing Officer in ensuring that our local nurses are recognised for their tireless work and commitment to our community,” Hon. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, Minister for Health, Environment & Sustainability, adds. “I want to add my gratitude to those who have answered the call and dedicated their lives to nursing and midwifery here in Cayman and around the world. I want to congratulate the winner of the Eloise Reid Award, Nurse Shanique Ayres, and to thank her for continuing to raise the bar within the profession. As the incoming Minister for Health, Environment & Sustainability, I look forward to giving continuity to the work that has been started by our Chief Nursing Officer to strengthen and elevate nursing within our shores.”
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