With a career spanning a remarkable 53 years, Nurse Emily Cumberbatch made an indelible contribution to Guyana’s Public Health Sector. Prior to retiring in 2021, Nurse Cumberbatch served as Registered Nurse, Midwife, Health Visitor, Health Sciences Education Tutor, and Epidemiology Nurse, providing care, mentorship, education, and guidance to thousands across Guyana. Speaking about the incentives for her extended career in professional nursing, Nurse Cumberbatch disclosed that she grew to love nursing because it brought deep joy seeing people who were ill fully recover due to the care and support she provided. “I was not getting a big salary; the personal satisfaction of caring and helping others is what motivated me,” she stated.
A well-respected senior health practitioner, Nurse Cumberbatch worked with a wide cross-section of people from various cultural groups and contributed significantly to developing, managing, and expanding many aspects of Guyana’s health care system. In her usual humble manner, she shared, “…even now, people stop me and remind me of how my care and kindness helped them many, many years ago.” Acknowledging the enormous responsibilities of nursing professionals, Nurse Cumberbatch also highlighted the great fulfilment she found in caring for and mentoring others. She is particularly grateful for the opportunities to empower young nursing professionals, to maximise emerging possibilities in Guyana’s growing healthcare sector.
From Bedside to Community Nursing
Originally from Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo, a rural community in Region 3, Essequibo Islands/West Demerara, young Emily Bowen started her work life as a junior teacher in her late teens. To assist her parents in caring for her eight younger siblings, she bravely travelled to Upper Mazaruni, Region 7, where she taught at Philipai and Paramakatoi Primary Schools. Though she received strong encouragement and support to remain a teacher, inspired by a desire to study Psychology, she decided to transition to nursing. On June 2, 1968, Emily Cumberbatch started her career in nursing. Reminiscing, she said, “I became a nurse because I thought it was the closest thing to Psychology. Nursing helped me meet and work with people in their situation.”
After completing Nursing School, young Emily became a Registered Nurse and Midwife. She worked in most departments of the Georgetown Public Hospital, including medical, surgical, female orthopaedic, ophthalmology, obstetrics, and gynaecology. During the late 1970s, Nurse Cumberbatch’s move to the Ministry of Health marked a notable career shift from bedside to community nursing. This presented opportunities for her to be in contact with a wider population, facilitating more preventative than curative medicine.
As a public health practitioner, Nurse Cumberbatch’s work focused on epidemiology, the public health nursing programme, and the management of communicable diseases. She completed a Certificate Course in Epidemiology at the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), a regional public health agency for the Caribbean in Trinidad and Tobago. She initially served in Region 3, in her home village Vergenoegen and Vreed en Hoop, Essequibo Islands/West Demerara, and subsequently travelled across various regions of Guyana, facilitating work in epidemiology. Nurse Cumberbatch also competently achieved a Health Science Tutor Certificate Course from the University of Guyana. Furthermore, an enduring desire to travel overseas to pursue additional professional qualifications was finally fulfiled when she was awarded a scholarship by the Pan American Health Organisation to pursue a Master’s in Public Health at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. Reflecting on her time in Jamaica, Nurse Cumberbatch said, “…it was a rough year. I really missed my family, had to do a lot of reading, housing was an issue, and I had to manage a limited budget by being extremely conservative.” Nevertheless, she completed the programme within the stipulated time and returned home, where she managed and taught the Public Health Nursing Programme for several years. Nurse Cumberbatch remained at the Ministry of Health until retirement.
Balancing Career and Family
Nurse Cumberbatch’s sterling contribution to Guyana’s Health Sector involved considerable sacrifice and responsibilities. Executing her job to the best of her ability required effectively balancing work and family life. She attributed her success to the unwavering, selfless support of her late husband of 34 years, George Cumberbatch. According to Nurse Cumberbatch, her husband was the backbone and foundation of her career and family and actively supported her in caring for and nurturing their three children. She warmly remembered her husband taking her to work and picking her up on time, and when she travelled for work and studies, he took full responsibility for the care of their children. Nurse Cumberbatch firmly believes the diligent support of her husband enabled her to meet critical professional demands and responsibilities.
Challenges of the Profession
The role of the nursing profession can be limitless. Whether in the hospital, community or at home, a Nurse is expected to demonstrate specific professional standards and decorum. Nursing is regarded as a noble profession based on the specialised training and service level.
Reflecting on her professional career, Nurse Cumberbatch believes though significant strides have been made in developing a proficient and ethical healthcare system, there is still much to be desired. She lamented persistent complaints from patients and the general public about nurses’ poor level of professionalism and care. The retired nurse practitioner recalled when her husband died in 2006; unfortunately, she had her own negative encounter with a staff nurse. While making arrangements for the post-mortem examination, a nurse who did not initially recognise her spoke to her disgruntledly. The nurse only became aware of who she was when the Matron [Audrey Corry, at that time] approached her, addressed her by her first name, and assisted with her concern.
Acknowledging Guyana’s healthcare sector is consistently expanding, placing enormous responsibilities on nursing professionals, Nurse Cumberbatch is convinced that excellent nurses are perpetually caring and helpful to others. She emphasised that nursing should be viewed as more than a job and requires one to have a big heart, compassion, and empathy for others. “I don’t have a lot of regrets, but sometimes when I look at what’s happening, I wish I could go back and help to make things better,” she divulged.
Advice to Young Nursing Professionals
Nurse Cumberbatch observed that the evolution of Guyana’s health sector is at its peak, with new and improved technology, and nurses are pivotal to delivering quality healthcare. For young nursing professionals, and those considering the profession, Nurse Cumberbatch believes it is fundamental to have a passion for the profession; otherwise work involved will always seem like a burden. To remain relevant, she encourages those who pursue professional nursing to be prepared to work hard and apply themselves through continuous education. According to Nurse Cumberbatch, a nurse with the right attitude, along with a commendable work ethic, creates for themselves valuable opportunities for upward mobility, including through higher education, travel, and promotion.
