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by Norma M. Benjamin (Author)
From a very tender age, Norma's dream was to become a nurse. Upon completion of secondary education and being told that she was too young to be accepted into nursing she took up employment as a receptionist at a resort. One week prior to her eighteenth birthday she was accepted at the Peebles Hospital as an Assistant Nurse and received less than half the salary she previously earned. She worked at all levels in the nursing hierarchy up to the Director of Nursing during her thirty-three years tenure.
She developed a special interest in midwifery and furthered her focus to women's health in general. As a certified childbirth educator, she empowers pregnant women and their spouses/partners to build confidence through unleashing any obstacles that hinders optimum wellness. Women are empowered to effectively care for themselves, build healthy relationships and strong families.
Having worked extensively as a nurse, she realizes there have been many historical events of significance going unnoticed and undocumented. She feels compelled to tell the story of the many trailblazers and those in current practice before this history is completely lost. The stories of nurses in other geographical areas have been told; Virgin Islands nurses, too, have experiences.
Norma is currently Manager of Health Benefits & Referrals with the National Health Insurance of the Virgin Islands and was a member of the implementation team. She enjoys cooking, baking, reading and traveling to new places and meeting people. Her faith in God has helped her to see challenges as opportunities and to live life at its fullest knowing that God has a divine purpose for each of our lives. Norma and her husband Charles are the parents of Vereen and Kyle, and grandson Kyle Jr.
