Health Ministry to remove nursing examination

July 02, 2012:

Government is moving to make amendments to the Nurses and Midwives Act which will see the removal of the nursing exam, paving the way for the accreditation of training provided for the health care workers at the various institutions.

Minister of Health, Dr Fuad Khan made the announcement as he addressed a media conference at the Ministry of Health’s head office in Port-of-Spain.

The Minister said between the years 2009-2012, 40 percent of graduating nurses failed the practical examination, which will provide a “licence” for the practice of nursing in Trinidad and Tobago.

Khan says while the changes will see the removal of the exam, it will  also give nurses trained in Trinidad and Tobago automatic registration to practice at home and abroad.

This, Khan said will assist in filling more than 3,000 vacancies which currently exist in the local health sector.

These amendments come amid plans to engage the Regional Health Authorities in refurbishment of nursing hostels, day care centres, cafeterias and change rooms in wards of the hospitals in all the regions as the ministry seeks to provide the necessary support systems for the nation’s nursing staff.