Nursing Programmes Significant To The Development Of Healthcare In Barbados

The growth of nursing programmes at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus, reflects Government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare and advancing the professional development of healthcare workers.

Speaking at the Nurses’ Pinning and Recognition ceremony held recently in the Henry Fraser Theatre, Minister of Training and Tertiary Education, Sandra Husbands, expressed pride in the meaningful expansion of nursing education at The UWI in recent years.

Ms. Husbands shared that the introduction of the Master of Science in Nursing, in Education and Administration specialisations marked a significant turning point for tertiary health care in Barbados.

“Now, why does this matter? Because we understand that education is vital to excellence in nursing practice, and more than ever, Caribbean healthcare systems need highly trained specialist nurses capable of meeting the demographic, epidemiological and technological challenges of modern health care,” she stressed.

While acknowledging the ongoing shortage of nurses, the Minister reaffirmed Government’s commitment to working closely with The UWI to expand training opportunities.

“We’re constantly working, and we pledge our support and our cooperation to work along with The UWI to help us expand the number of nurses whom we’re able to train and deploy to make sure that our society remains healthy and safe.”

Minister Husbands also praised the graduates for their achievements and their “unwavering tenacity, balancing academic pursuits with the relentless demands of professional nursing”.

“I want to salute you as graduates because you had already achieved your first level in terms of gaining your nursing qualifications, but you’ve decided that there was more that you can offer to your country, … to your community, and to your profession.

“We celebrate the diligence, the determination and discipline of an extraordinary group of nursing professionals,” she stated.

Dean of the Faculty of Medical Services of The UWI Cave Hill Campus, Dr. Damian Cohall, explained that the development of specialised programmes in paediatric nursing was designed to address a pressing regional challenge.

“We noted that quite a number of our highly skilled and trained nurses were being recruited by the global north, …creating a void. The University responded to this need in society and thought that it was important to establish programmes that would allow for that cycle of training to continue… [and] good administration within our healthcare systems,” Dr. Cohall said.

Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal of The UWI, Cave Hill Campus, Professor Clive Landis, disclosed that the pinning ceremony is a more intimate and symbolic rite of passage which celebrates the dedication, resilience and clinical competence of nursing graduates and their readiness to enter the healthcare workforce.

“Nurses have always occupied a special place in Caribbean society, working at the very front line of our health systems.  

“The nurses we are celebrating today, with specialisations in paediatric nursing, nursing education and nursing administration, are certainly needed to strengthen our healthcare systems, both within Barbados and the wider region,” Professor Landis stated. (PR/GIS)