Twenty-nine registered nurses have begun a distance learning course that should result in them being awarded full bachelor’s degrees in nursing at the conclusion of the 30-month course.
‘The programme is conducted through the University of the West Indies School of Nursing. Our nurses will be expected to perform their usual duties at the Health Services Authority and they will do the course work in their spare time,’ explained Chief Nurse Hazel Brown.
‘There is a global initiative under way and soon all nurses will be required to hold a bachelor’s degree to be registered. In total we have between 100 and 150 nurses at the Health Services Authority that need to go though this course and from now on we will be conducting new enrolments each year.’
Country Coordinator for the BSc Nursing Programme Abigail Parchment said the course will ‘increase the knowledge base of the nurses, as well as improve their ability to do health assessments and their ability to utilize and interpret current medical research.’
Ms Parchment will serve as the liaison between the School of Nursing and those enrolled on the course. While the course work is primarily done over the internet, there is a practical component as well and she will provide support and guide the nurses through clinical training.
The cost of the course is US$75 per credit and the nurses need 59 credits to graduate. The total cost of the course is therefore US$4,425.
‘All of the students are funded to a certain extent by government, some are funded 75 per cent some 100 per cent,’ said Ms Brown.
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