PRESS RELEASE - As of October 2014 with consent of the Caricom Countries and the General Nursing Councils in the respective territories anybody coming in to register as a nurse in St. Lucia is now required to do the CXC Managed RENR examination.
RENR stands for the Regional Examination for Nurse Registration. Previously anyone could have applied to the Nursing Council to register as a Nurse in St. Lucia once they had completed a course of training approved by the council and had been successful at the qualifying examination.
The General Nursing Council is a statuary body within the Ministry of Health which was established for the registration of Nurses, Midwives, Nursing Assistants and Nurse Practitioners.
The council also has a responsibility to regulate and evaluate the aforementioned professions by prescribing the curriculum of study, the programmes and training facility.
The Nursing Council also regulates the practice and professional conduct of its members and advises the Minister for Health on matters pertaining to nursing and midwifery services on the island.
Chairperson of the General Nursing Council of St. Lucia, Mrs. Lucia Lee, says the council is required by law to maintain a register and roll which include the names of individuals, date of registration and qualifications.
“A register affords us the opportunity to monitor the people who practice nursing in St. Lucia as a protection for the public and the nurse herself. All Nurses, Nursing Assistants, Midwives, Nurse Practitioners are required to renew their license every year.”
In reference to penalties for nonpayment of renewal of licenses, Mrs. Lee when on the say, “Failure to renew the license may result in suspension of the licensure. It means then that this person is practicing illegally because the person is not practicing within the ambit of the law.
Therefore it is important in order for the nurse to continue practicing the person has a current license. Whilst they have done their initial registration they need to renew their license on an annual basis.
It is the responsibility of all employing institutions and agents to ensure that the licensure status of all applicants and/or employee is current.”
Chairperson of the General Nursing Council further stated that since 2004 all nurses are required to show proof of continuing education in order to maintain standards within the profession.
Currently a minimum of 15 hours of continuous education is required however this is expect to be reviewed up to 30 hrs. Failure to adhere to the requirements for re-licensure can result in the suspension of a nurses license and/or a charge against the nurse.
Payments Mrs. Lee says can be made at the office of the General Nurses Council, on the 2nd Floor of the Victoria Hospital, Mondays to Thursdays.