She has the power to fire and hire and uses it not to instill fear, but to advance the career dreams of hundreds of immigrants. This Trinidadian born power house whose resume is so impressive that it is six pages long, loves to hire her people, especially black males, and place them in the key positions for which they are qualified.

Barbara Young was born in San Fernando and is considered one of the top nursing administrators in New York City.

In her current position as vice-president of Nursing Services of the United Presbyterian Residence Care Corporation in Long Island, New York, she is in charge of a five-building 762-bed facility with responsibilities which include overseeing nurses, nurses aides, clerical staff, clinical services and promoting quality care. It is a job, which from all indications, Young takes seriously. Her portfolio also includes running the Professional Services MJG Nursing Home and Shorefront Jewish Geriatric Center.

Young's accomplishments and activities, although quite numerous to mention includes participation in an inter-facility task force for Change Management/Re-engineering. She also assisted with the implementation of operational strategies, which resulted in approximately US $1.2 million in annual labour savings to offset the Governor's budget, successfully directed the Nursing department of both facilities through the completion of JCAHO accreditation for Long Term Care, Dementia and Sub-acute Programmes. As vice-president she also successfully coordinated the planning process and participated in the move of 359 residents from an old facility into a new facility in less than four hours with no adverse effect. Her administrative responsibility also includes quality assurance/infection control, therapeutic recreation, rehabilitation and Medicare/utilisation.

She has been instrumental in making her presence felt and giving qualified T&T medical personnel the big breaks. One ex-male nurse from Port of Spain General Hospital, who is now resident in the US and an upcoming administrator himself, when asked about Barbara Young says; "I will not be where I am today if not for Barbara Young. She looks out for her people. Everything I have accomplished career-wise since coming to America is due to Barbara Young's generosity of spirit. She gave me my first break."

But 59-year-old Young brushes away the accolades with a shy smile and says: "I just reward hard work. I was rewarded for my hard work and I do the same for those who deserve it."

As past president of the Trinidad and Tobago Nurses Association of America, and chairman of the Education Committee, Young also ensures that some 1500 scholarships are given to student nurses of Trinidadian origin. The scholarships are made possible through functions, nursing seminars and fundraising.

Young migrated to the United States in 1967 to study physical therapy and according to her she has even "surpassed her initial ambitions". Before migrating she worked at San Fernando General Hospital as a registered nurse and midwife and also worked at the St James Infirmary.

It was at the infirmary, Young says that her love for geriatrics began.

Now sitting in her luxurious home in Brooklyn, which she recently bought after selling her house in New Jersey, Young said she wanted to simplify her life.

"The New Jersey home was far too large. I needed a smaller house. Also, living in Brooklyn would enable me to have a shorter commute to my job in Long Island."

Speaking softly and in a wistful tone she relates how she derived her inspiration from recent Trinity Cross winner Dr Henry Collymore, who she worked with at San Fernando General during the early days of her career.

"His dedication inspired me to remain in the medical field and to pursue my education," she explains, while adding, "it was the sixties, and I did what all immigrants coming to American did back then. I took night to make day. I worked during the day and studied hard at night. Nothing was too hard for me to do in the way of honest work."

Young worked at Maimondes Medical Center as a staff nurse while pursuing her Master of Science in Community Health from Hunter College of the City University. And she did not waste time, when she left Maimondes she was Head Nurse. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Community Health from Jersey City State College.

The qualifications she holds today reads like a who's who. She is a New York State Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, a New York State Registered Professional Nurse, and a New York State Certified RUG Assessor. Her certification and licenses also include - RHP Certification (National Certification Program serving assisted living), CCRC and senior housing professionals.

She has received awards from the Trinidad and Tobago Nurses Association of America and the Trinidad and Tobago Alliance of the US Inc. She holds professional membership in the American Nurses Association, American Society for Nurse Executives, the Caribbean American Nurses Association, the Advisory Board of Medgar Evers College and the Imani Literary Group.

Happily married, she is a mother of two, Vesper a 32-year-old mentally challenged daughter and Kurt 30-year-old son who holds a (juris doctor) in law. "I could not ask for a better marriage, children or life and I am grateful," she sighs with a happy note.

"Everybody who came here in the sixties will tell you the same story. You work hard to achieve, you don't and you will not," she reiterates.

Among the many titles this seemingly unstoppable woman has held is that of Director of Nursing of Holliswood Care Center, Assistant Director of Nursing of the same facility, Associate Director of Nursing of Arthur C Logan Memorial Hospital and also Education Coordinator at Logan.

Despite her academic achievements she says she is not without her sad moments explaining: "One of the saddest and most challenging points in my life was when my daughter was born. It was difficult to accept that she had a problem. A lot of money and time was spent with speech therapists and doctors to make her into the functional human being she is today. I am proud to report that she is a capable human being and employed as a dietary assistant at Metropolitan Hospital."

In the winter years of her life, Young says she hopes to retire to Tobago and to do volunteer work. "I have been blessed", she says "and the only way to say thank you from the heart is to give something back."