Beyond the Operating Room with Nurse Pinnock

Our religious beliefs are critical to who we are today. How did your faith influence you? What was that like for you?

"During the week, we had a strict routine of rising early for worship, dancing through the ice-cold morning showers and heading out to get to school at 7:00 a.m., then returning home to chores and homework before relaxing to a special tv program that we had to choose from the week prior. On the weekends was church on Sabbath and then Pathfinder club (a club likened to scouts or cadets ran by the Seventh Day Adventist Church) on Sunday mornings Here we would learn about God and various life skills, nature, drill and march and outreach, to name a few. Though tedious at times, this routine taught me discipline and leadership, and I also helped to develop my passion for baking and helping people"

How did you become interested in specialising as a OR Nurse?

"My formal education began officially at Manchester High School, where I received 8 CXCs and 8 CAPE, which propelled me to pursue a double major in Chemistry at the University of the West Indies. However, I changed career choices and pursued Nursing at the Northern Caribbean University I spent four years earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and later receiving my license to practice by the Nursing Council of Jamaica. Since then, I've worked as a registered nurse for over seven and a half (7.5) years, with my practice being primarily as an operating theatre nurse

I was first introduced to the operating theatre during my second or third year of clinical rotation as a student I remember observing a Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting or CABG. I was both in awe and excited about the technical set-up for the procedure and then the specifics of the procedure itself. To say I was mesmerised would be putting it lightly Hence, I knew being a perioperative nurse was what I wanted to pursue, and I haven't looked back since. I not only enjoy the procedures themselves but have a love for the care and support of the patients and their relatives before and after the procedures I've found that extra support puts our patients at ease for even some of the direst situations, and it's gratifying to hear the "Thank You's" and gratitude after a case. There'sThere's also no better feeling than knowing you made a difference in that person'sperson's life and even saving a life"

How did you get to the Turks and Caicos Islands – and now at the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre?

"After working for six years in a relatively small hospital in Jamaica, I started to search for more. This led me to the Turks and Caicos Hospital in September 2021, and thus far, the experience has been mostly positive, and though I'veI've had challenges, these have allowed growth in ways I had not imagined. I've been introduced to a wider variety of procedures and standards of care as well as duties which have aided in expanding my practice I greatly value the mandate of this medical institution to reach for the highest level of care continually and admire the steps being taken along the way. I also expect to do my part to achieve the diamond standard and that the operating theatre continues to operate above and beyond expectations"

We are truly fortunate to have Nurse Pinnock as an integral part of our healthcare team. Her passion, dedication, and well-rounded approach to life make her an outstanding OR Nurse and an inspiring individual who enriches the lives of those around her.

Thank you, Nurse Pinnock, for sharing a glimpse into your life beyond the operating room

We are privileged to have you as part of our Turks and Caicos Islands family.