Nursing in the twin island republic of Trinidad & Tobago is rewarding, and we at the Ministry of Health are committed to providing pathways of development for our front-line nursing workforce. Our patients remain at the centre of our vision to provide the best healthcare in the English speaking Caribbean.
REGISTERED NURSE (RN)
Roles and Description: The Registered nurses’ duties vary according to the areas of their expertise. They play a vital role in promoting the wellness by performing a wide range of services. An RN mainly focuses on caring for and educating the patients and their family members about early recovery and ways of prevention of diseases. Hence, nurses assess patients’ health problems and needs, develop and execute nursing careplans, and uphold medical records. Educational Requirement: Five (5) O Levels. This MUST include the following-: English Language, Mathematics or Accounts, Science subject (Human & Social Biology, Physics, or Chemistry) Qualification Attained: Bachelor of Science (BSN) Degree in Nursing Where is training offered: • University of the Southern Caribbean(USC) • UWI School of Nursing(UWISON) • College of Science Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad & Tobago (COSTAATT)
REGISTERED MENTAL HEALTH / PSYCHIATRIC NURSE
Roles and Description: These nurses are specially trained to deal with patients of all ages who have mental illnesses such as, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and many more. Mental health nurses work as part of a team to provide total medical care for the patient. They also are responsible for assessing and evaluating the mental health needs of patients, admitting, administering medication, conducting follow up treatment, monitoring social interactions and ensuring the patient is visited by relatives so that family therapy can be administered. Educational Requirement: Five (5) O Levels. This MUST include the following-: English Language, Mathematics or Accounts, Science subject (Human & Social Biology, Physics, or Chemistry) Qualification Attained: Certificate in Mental Health Nursing Where is training offered: • College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad &Tobago (COSTAATT) • Ministry of Education
LICENSED MIDWIFE
Roles and Description: The midwife is a responsible and accountable professional who works in partnership with women to give the necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period, to conduct births on the midwife’s own responsibility and to provide care for the newborn and the infant. This care includes preventative measures, the promotion of normal birth, the detection of complications in mother and child, the accessing of medical care or other appropriate assistance and the carrying out of emergency measures. The midwife has an important task in health counselling and education, not only for the woman, but also within the family and the community. This work should involve antenatal education and preparation for parenthood and may extend to women’s health; sexual or reproductive health and child care. A midwife may practice in any setting including the home, community, hospitals, clinics or health units (ICM 2005). Educational Requirement: 1. Registered Nurse’s Qualification (BSc Nursing) 2. Enrolled Nursing Assistant 3. For Direct Entry Midwifery : Five O Levels. This MUST include the following-: English Language, Mathematics or Accounts, Science subject(Human & Social Biology, Physics, or Chemistry) Qualification Attained: a. Certificate in Midwifery (Ministry of Education) b. BSc. in Midwifery (COSTAATT) Where is training offered: • COSTAAT • Ministry of Education – Schools of Midwifery – Port of Spain & San Fernando
SCHOOL NURSE
Roles and Description: A school nurse is a qualified nurse or midwife. School nurses work across education and health, providing a link between school, home and the community. Their aim is to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people. They work with families and young people from five to nineteen and are usually linked to a school or group of schools. These nurses also implement strategies to help prevent illness, care for injuries and promote student and staff health. More often you will also see school nurses working closely with practitioners, health visitors and other social care staff. If you love children and enjoy variety in your workday, this is a great option in the nursing field. Educational Requirement: • Registered Nurse’s Qualification/Licensure • BSc Nursing Qualification Attained: Bachelor’s Science in School Nursing Where is training offered: • UWI • COSTATT
DISTRICT HEALTH VISITOR
Roles and Description: Health Visitors are qualified nurses or midwives who have been trained in community health. Health visitors’ are particularly proactive and focus on prevention and promotion of health. A health visitor provides care and supports families with new children, offering advice and guidance from pregnancy to primary school. They advise parents on breastfeeding, weaning, potty training, teething, common childhood health problems and various other issues that new parents might face. They will also help tackle issues such as bereavement, postnatal depression and violence in the family. Protecting children is also a huge concern and health visitors are trained to look out for risk factors or signs that children might be suffering from abuse or neglect. Health visitors work closely with other health professionals to ensure that the clients’ needs and requirements are met. Educational Requirement: • Registered Nurse’s Qualification/Licensure • BSc Nursing Qualification Attained: • BSc Community Nursing • BSc Health Visiting Where is training offered: • UWI • USC • COSTATT
ADVANCED NURSE PRACTITIONER (ANP)
Roles and Description: (Position not yet established in Trinidad & Tobago) An Advanced Nurse Practitioner is a registered nurse with a graduate-level education and advanced practice training. ANPs can be described as more independent practitioners who, in some places, run medical clinics without the supervision of a doctor. As many communities face a shortage of primary care physicians, nursing practitioners are a welcomed and needed addition to the medical field. They can give diagnosis, plan treatment, and prescribe medication. If you love taking on responsibility and being independent and you want less educational years than a physician ANP would be a good option. Educational Requirement: • Registered Nurse’s Qualification/Licensure • BSc Nursing Qualification Attained: Advanced Nurse Practitioner Qualification (Master’s Level) Where is training offered: • Jamaica • United States of America • UK (Not yet available in Trinidad & Tobago)
INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (ICU) NURSE / CRITICAL CARE NURSE (CCN)
Roles and Description: These Nurses work in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and deal with patients who have very complex and serious illnesses. ICU nurses are also called critical care nurses and may work with specific age groups in specialty hospitals/wards such as a pediatric ICU. Usually an RN working in the ICU would require training or a certificate due to the complexity of this job. Educational Requirement: Registered Nurse’s Qualification (BSc Nursing) Qualification Attained: Certificate in ICU/NICU or CCU Nursing Where is training offered: School of Community Nursing (Fredrick Street, Port of Spain)
TRAUMA EMERGENCY ROOM NURSE
Roles and Description: An emergency room nurse will treat patients experiencing trauma or injury in a hospital ER. They will encounter a variety of conditions and have to stabilize and resuscitate patients dealing with traumatic events and injuries. This position would be good for someone who can handle high stress scenarios and find it rewarding to be a presence of calm amidst chaos. Educational Requirement: Registered Nurse’s Qualification (BSc Nursing) Qualification Attained: Certificate in Trauma Nursing Where is training offered: School of Community Nursing (Fredrick Street, Port of Spain)
OPERATING ROOM (OR) NURSE
Roles and Description: An operating room nurse is a licensed Registered Nurse (RN) who assists in the operating room (OR) and provides pre- and post-operative care to surgery patients. This is good for someone who is empathetic to the stress of surgery on a patient. Enrolled Nursing Assistants who are trained to work in the OR are called scrub nurses or scrub techs. Educational Requirement: • Registered Nurse’s Qualification/ Licensure (BSc Nursing) • Enrolled Nursing Assistant Qualification Attained: • Certificate in Theatre Nursing • Scrub Tech Certification Where is training offered: School of Community Nursing (Fredrick Street, Port of Spain)
PAEDIATRIC NURSES
Roles and Description: These nurses work in the Paediatric Clinic or Ward of a hospital. They are responsible for the overall care of children from infant to adolescence. These nurse professionals are involved in monitoring and recording their patient’s height, weight and developmental milestones. Many paediatric nurses are also responsible for administering vaccinations and immunizations. Helping children to grow up healthy and strong is really at the heart of what paediatric nurses do every day. This type of nursing is a good for those who like children, are nurturing, patient, and observant. Educational Requirement: • Registered Nurse’s Qualification • BSc Nursing Qualification Attained: Certificate in Paediatric Nursing Where is training offered: School of Community Nursing (Fredrick Street, Port of Spain)
RENAL / NEPHROLOGY NURSE
Roles and Description: Renal or nephrology nurses are Registered Nurses who treat patients with kidney failure/dysfunction. These nurses provide dialysis treatment to patients as well as educate them on lifestyle changes. This is a good fit for those who seek a rewarding career because dialysis prolongs life. Educational Requirement: Registered Nurse’s Qualification (BSc Nursing) Qualification Attained: Certificate in Dialysis Where is training offered: School of Community Nursing (Fredrick Street, Port of Spain)
ONCOLOGY NURSES
Roles and Description: Oncology nurses provide care for patients who are diagnosed with cancer, at risk of developing cancer or are in remission. Some of the major roles include administering chemotherapy, prescribing medications, monitoring physical conditions and encouragement. This type would be rewarding for someone who likes a challenge and is research oriented. Educational Requirement: • Registered Nurse’s Qualification/Licensure • BSc Nursing Qualification Attained: BSc in Oncology Nursing Where is training offered: UWI
CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALIST
Roles and Description: Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) are advanced registered nurses (APRNs) that serve as experts in evidence –based nursing practice within one of a number of different specialty areas. They integrate their advanced knowledge of disease processes in assessing, diagnosing, and treating patient illnesses, but their role extends beyond providing patient care. Clinical nurse specialists work in a variety of areas which include:- Population (paediatrics, women’s health, geriatrics, etc.) • Type of care (psychiatric, rehabilitation, etc.) • Type of problem (wound care, pain management, etc.) • Disease/medical subspecialty (oncology, diabetes, etc.) • Setting (critical care, emergency, etc.) Educational Requirement: Registered Nurse’s Qualification ( BSc Nursing) Qualification Attained: Clinical Nurse Specialist Qualification (Master’s Level) Where is training offered: • UWI Jamaica • United States of America • UK (Not yet available in Trinidad & Tobago)
DISTRICT NURSE
Roles and Description: District Nurses are specialist practitioners who work with housebound patients and their families with acute, complex and end-of-life needs to maximize their health and well-being. They play a vital role in the primary healthcare team. A District Nurse takes care of patients at any age , most times the elderly, while others may have been recently discharged from hospital, be terminally ill or have physical disabilities. The roles of the District Nurse are: • To monitor the quality of care patients are receiving at home • To assess and a manage the health care needs of patients and families • To educate the patient on self care • Take urine and blood samples, administrate medicine or give injections, take blood pressure, dress wounds or set up drips. • To ensure patient is responding well to treatment Educational Requirement: Registered Nurse’s Qualification ( BSc Nursing) Qualification Attained: Advanced Diploma in District Nursing) Where is training offered: UK (Currently no training is offered in Trinidad & Tobago)
ENROLLED NURSING ASSISTANT
Roles and Description: Enrolled Nursing Assistants are under the supervision of an RN. Their roles include working closely with patients under the direction of nursing staff. They provide personal care for patients, including helping them bathe, get dressed, use the bathroom, eat, taking and recording of vital signs and more. Becoming an ENA is a great entry point for those looking to get a taste of the nursing field. Educational Requirement: Three (3) O Levels. This MUST include the following-: English Language, Mathematics and a Science subject. Qualification Attained: Enrolled Nursing Assistant Where is training offered: School of Nursing Ministry of Education
PATIENT CARE ASSISTANT (PCA)
Roles and Description: A patient care assistant works under the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional, usually a Registered Nurse. Roles include washing and dressing patients, serving meals and helping to feed patients, assisting in moving, toileting and bed making, taking vitals and talking to patients. Additional roles of a PCA include sterilizing equipment, restocking rooms, taking blood samples (only if phlebotomy trained and dependent on the institution). Educational Requirement: • Set by the Institution of training. • Possibly basic Maths and English Qualification Attained: • Certificate in Geriatric Nursing • Certificate in Child Care
For more information, please contact:
National Administrator Nursing Services
Ministry of Health
4-6 Queen's Park East
Port-of-Spain
Telephone: (868) 217-4664 Ext. 16601- 16605
Ministry of Education
Telephone: (868) 622-2181