Twenty-one Caymanians are now poised for career advancement as certified healthcare aides through the Health Services Authority’s (HSA) Healthcare Aide Training Programme.  

The graduates, all employees of the HAS’s George Town and Faith hospitals, received their certification in a ceremony held at the George Town Hospital’s Hibiscus Conference Room on 29^th November 2023. 

The programme, which is offered for free to the participants, is facilitated via the accredited learning management system, Elsevier, aimed at upskilling participants to occupy vacant, entry-level nursing positions or posts that will utilise their extensive training and experience. 

During the 13-week programme, participants are required to fulfill eight weeks of lectures and four weeks of supervised practical in the hospital’s Critical Care, Medical, Surgical, Accident and Emergency and Behavioural Health units. 

Sashell Hydes, a member of this year’s cohort who is currently enrolled in University College of the Cayman Islands’ registered nurse programme shared that, “it has helped me in becoming a highly experienced healthcare assistant provider with a proven track record of providing compassionate and professional medical care to patients. It has also helped me to serve my country and to live out my dream.”

She continued: “In addition, with the appropriate qualifications as a healthcare aide, I am now able to study at the degree-level in Nursing at the University College of the Cayman Islands.”

CEO at the HSA Lizzette Yearwood noted that, “this programme forms part of the HSA’s strategic plan to focus on empowering staff and to ensure that we retain and attract the best. By certifying our staff, we are expanding the hospital’s capacity to provide patients with knowledgeable and competent professionals who will administer adequate care while fostering a progressive environment for employees to feel valued and advance their career.”

Participants in the programme were supervised by the HSA’s Nursing Department, which is accredited to offer continuing medical education and clinical experience by the Cayman Islands Nursing and Midwifery Council. 

“The recent certifications will bolster our nursing staff and improve our capacity to provide quality care in a timely and efficient manner throughout the hospital,” stated Dr Sharon Radcliffe, Director of Nursing at the HSA.  She also noted that “it is also commendable that the participants have seized the opportunity to become qualified and ready to fill these important positions.”

The Healthcare Aide Programme is among several initiatives by the HSA to strengthen its service delivery and improve efficiency utilising local talent. In May, eight Caymanians graduated from the hospital’s Emergency Medical Technician Training Programme.