'Put an end to unregulated nursing schools'

The Nursing Council of Jamaica has been urged to take greater steps to put an end to unregulated entities offering nursing education across the island.

The call was made today during a sitting of Parliament’s Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) where committee chairman, Dr Wykeham McNeill, bemoaned that the country has seen a proliferation of unaccredited nursing schools in recent years.

McNeill stressed that these unregulated schools are a blight on the system and are taking advantage of persons seeking to uplift themselves.

He was supported by committee member, Fitz Jackson, who argued that stronger action is needed to remove unregulated nursing schools.

The call was made after chairman of the Nursing Council of Jamaica, Dr Leila Dehaney, told the committee that there are eight accredited institutions certified to offer programmes for registered nurses.

Dehaney further disclosed that the council does not have numbers on the unregulated schools as it does not track these entities.

However, she said the oversight body is looking at ways to bring more persons into the formal system.