Students Graduate: Nursing Assistant Certificates
Today [Jun 24] the Ministry of Education representatives joined the President of the Bermuda College in presenting certificates to 14 senior school students who completed the Certificate for Nursing Assistants programme through the Division of Professional and Career Education.
The students are the first to obtain this certification within the Bermuda Public School System.
The Nurses Assistant Certificate Programme, which commenced in January 2014, is a certification programme within the Ministry of Education’s Career Pathway Programme. This programme was designed in partnership with Bermuda College, the Bermuda Hospitals Board and the Ministries of Health and Education.
The Berkeley Institute and CedarBridge Academy students who completed the programme spent the past 18 months including during their summer break to successfully complete course requirements. They also received practical experience at the various senior care facilities on the island and were exposed to the operations of KEMH.
The programme involved attending three and four hours classes, throughout the regular academic school year, classes three days a week in the summer, a Capstone Clinical experience where they received first hand work experience in places such as the King Edward Memorial Hospital, The Mid- Atlantic Wellness Centre and the senior citizens rest homes.
Front row [left to right]: Kiante Smith, Kianna Smith, Shirina Simmons, Son-J Hall, Jaha Matthews, Samara Brown, Back row [left to right]: Keizhari Knight, Rhema Webb Hollis, Ashaki Arnold, Hadiyah Barnett, Quesjionah Outerbridge, Missing: Dejahnique Hunt, Chala McGowan and Nicole Roque
The last component of the programme involved students sitting a final exam based on the content they have studied over the last 18 months. Students had to obtain a C average [70 %] or better to obtain the certificate.
In her congratulatory remarks, President of the Bermuda College, Dr Duranda Greene said, “The students receiving this certification today have become trailblazers for their respective schools, for Bermuda College, and indeed for Bermuda in that they are the first high school graduates to complete the programme.”
Dr Greene added, “Students, we commend you and thank you for your dedication and determination. You are now prepared to work as nursing assistants in long-term care centres, hospitals, rehabilitation care facilities, hospices, clinics, adult day care centres and community health centres. We encourage all of you to not make this the end of your journey; but to go on to further your education in pursuit of careers in the health care profession.”
Dr Radell Tankard, Education Officer; Dr Duranda Greene, Bermuda College President, [Right] Kathy Swan, Director of Nursing; Karen Smith, Bermuda College Pace Programme Coordinator; Valerie Robinson-James, Education Permanent Secretary
Education Officer for the Career Pathways Programme, Dr Raydell Tankard said, “These young ladies worked tirelessly over the course of the last 18 months and are now a beacon light for those following in the next cohort that consists of 16 students from both senior schools.
“What is even more encouraging is that these ladies have an entry level certification in the nursing field and hopefully they will continue their studies in this profession because Bermuda needs certified Registered Nurses.”
I’d like to congratulate the following ladies on accomplishing their individual goals. There’s truly a need for more young locals,(male or females) to pursue such a career. The greatest thing in life one can do for another is to make them feel,(and acknowledge) they are necessary.
Kiante Smith, Kianna Smith, Shirina Simmons, Son-J Hall, Jaha Matthews, Samara Brown, Back row [left to right]: Keizhari Knight, Rhema Webb Hollis, Ashaki Arnold, Hadiyah Barnett, Quesjionah Outerbridge, Missing: Dejahnique Hunt, Chala McGowan and Nicole Roque
Well Done, Ladies!!!! Upward and Onward
Really nice
Love it! Congratulations to Bda’s future nurses!! There are many male nurses, wonder why none of our boys wasn’t in the programme
Very nice hope they carry on to be nurses Bermuda needs more local nurses.
Congratulations to all the graduates of such an excellent career development program. I admire your dedication, hard work and commitment to this program. I hope there can be a job placement component added to the program to facilitate entry into the health care services industry.
It is my hope that all of you will enjoy a rewarding career in the health care profession.