The University College of the Cayman Islands, in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, Financial Services & Employment and the Ministry of Health, Environment, Youth, Sports & Culture, hosted the formal launch of the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, April 4, 2013.

President Bodden, UCCI President and Chair of the Nursing Advisory Council expressed his excitement over this much-anticipated event, saying, “The establishment of a School of Nursing at the University College not only broadens the educational options of our students, but also speaks volumes to the growth of UCCI as a tertiary level institution.  Importantly, too, it conveys a sense of the growth of the Cayman Islands as a maturing society.”

The Nursing Programme was developed in recognition of the fact that skilled and professional healthcare workers are important to support the healthcare sector in the Cayman Islands.

As noted in the 2008 Statistical Compendium published by the Cayman Islands Economics and Statistics Office (ESO), which includes the results of the 2008 Labour Force Survey, 7.9% of the Cayman Islands’ workforce is employed in the education, health services and social work industries. Excluding government contracts, 672 work permits (which represent 2.6% total work permit holders) were issued for professional workers in education, health services and social work industries. Clearly this reflects the need to articulate the importance of the healthcare industry and to increase the number of professional healthcare workers in that sector.

This statistic therefore represents an opportunity to train Caymanians in a field of significant importance to the economy and the country on a whole.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Hon. Rolston Anglin, JP, is very excited for this opportunity to be provided locally.  He said, “The medical field is an extremely important one, and one that we must encourage Caymanians to be a part of.  By having this nursing programme offered locally at UCCI we are making it more accessible for our people to train in this area.  The Scholarship Secretariat will be providing Local scholarships to eligible Caymanians wishing to take this programme.”

He also thanked those involved for bringing this programme to fruition.  He said, “I would like to thank UCCI and HSA for making this programme a reality and for ensuring it is regulated so that it is competitive and internationally recognised.  I look forward to hearing of the successes of the programme and of the Nurses who graduate from this course.”

The Ministry of Health, Environment, Youth, Sports & Culture is delighted to be a major partner in the delivery of the new programme. Honourable Minister Scotland said, “In the past, the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority has made attempts to undertake training initiatives for the nursing profession by offering the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) programme which had to be suspended in lieu of a more cost effective programme. The new Nursing Programme at UCCI will provide opportunities for graduates of the LPN programme and other students looking to have a rewarding career in the health care industry to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree and qualify to become Registered Nurses without having to leave the island.”

He also added that students will benefit from a world-class programme at a competitive price. “The curriculum provides a global perspective and is comparable with other curricula in the region and elsewhere in the world. Priced competitively, the programme is internationally attractive. It is also important to note that we have taken care to bring special focus and attention to the needs of the local industry.”

To qualify for the programme, applicants must have a minimum of five (5) CXC, IGCSE, GSCE passes with grades 1-3 or A-C. These must include Mathematics, English Language and a pure science (Biology, Human and Social Biology). Among the five subjects, no more than two (2) subjects should be at grades III.

Alternatively, those with an LPN Certificate may also apply. They must have five (5) years relevant experience, an examination pass in Mathematics (CSC, IGCSE, GCSE) plus a recommendation from an employer.

All applicants must be at least 17 years old at time of entry into the programme. They must submit an essay or personal statement as part of their application. An interview is also required.

The Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing is awarded on successful completion of the programme of study. Graduates are eligible to write the Nursing Council of Jamaica approved and administered Regional Examination for Nurse Registration (RENR) to obtain the title of Registered Nurse, which is a requirement for practicing nursing legally.

Applications from qualified students are still being accepted until May 1, 2013. Mr. Bodden said, “Nursing is an attractive, viable and caring vocation in which practitioners can derive a sense of self-worth, as well as satisfaction, from helping others.”

Anyone interested in learning more about the programme is invited to visit our website for further information at ucci.edu.ky.

Photo Credit: University College of the Cayman Islands

Photo Caption: The formal launch of the UCCI BSc Nursing degree hosted by UCCI, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health was supported by Cayman’s pioneers in the nursing field, nurses of the Heath Services Authority, as well as guests from overseas.