Georgetown: Persons desirous of pursuing nursing in the region will now have to write a regional nursing entrance examination that will commence in October, 2013.
This new initiative was agreed to by the Executive and Education Committees and 10th practice committee of the regional nursing body at the 41st joint meeting on February 26-28th 2013 at the Caricom Secretariat.
According to a release from the secretariat, the meeting reviewed and made amendments to the regional standard for nursing education as well as the practice standard.
The revision of the standards will be completed with assistance from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and regional office for Caribbean programme coordination.
Among the objectives discussed were preparations for the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) managed regional examination for nurse registration, finalization of the standards of nursing education, align nursing and midwifery legislation, develop a regional policy for midwifery practice and streamline the role of nurses in school health programmes across the region.
Further, the meeting reviewed the draft model legislation for nurses and midwives to facilitate the standardization of regulation, registration and licensing across the region.
When approved by member states the legislation will put in place the necessary framework to advance the free movement of those categories of workers within the region.
A regional policy and strategy for midwifery practice was also initiated. A rapid assessment of the status of midwifery among Caricom member states, conducted by the RNB through the Caricom Secretariat provided the evidence base for these discussions.
Additionally it highlighted key areas for standardization in a thrust for harmonizing the midwifery practice across the region.
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