Empowering Nursing and Midwifery Education and Practice 

Regional Nursing Body Meeting Sparks Transformation in 2023! 

On July 18th-20th, 2023, the Region's health sector was boosted following the 50th Annual General Meeting of the Regional Nursing Body, which focused on making policy changes to improve midwifery, education, and nursing practices in the region. Empowering Nursing and Midwifery Education and Practice: Regional Nursing Body Meeting Sparks Transformation in 2023! Keep reading to learn the changes being made. 

Ms. Helen Royer, Directorhad the following to say, "I anticipate that as the Regional Nursing Body continues to support and complement the wider strategic goals for health, it remains focused on the promotion and implementation of policies, legislation, strategies and guidelines to improve nursing leadership, practice, and education in the Region." 

What Will Change for Nursing and Midwifery in 2023 

Some things that will change in the 2023 transformation will be an update on the assessment of the CXC-managed Regional Examination for Nurse Registration and the pilot of the Regional Examination for Nurse Registration Standardized Clinical Assessment Tool. In addition to those, other matters concerning the region's health sector will be updated. 

What is Midwifery 

According to Midwife.org, "Midwifery as practiced by certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs) encompasses the independent provision of care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period; sexual and reproductive health; gynecologic health; and family planning services, including preconception care." 

They conduct physical examinations; independently prescribe medications including but not limited to controlled substances, treatment of substance use disorder, and expedited partner therapy; admit, manage, and discharge patients; order and interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests; and order medical devices, durable medical equipment, and home health services. 

These services are essential for new mothers as they start their healing journey after birth. The healing process includes many factors which the midwife will assist them with. They will also provide care for their infants up to 5 weeks old. 

It is important to understand what midwifery and nursing are together to better understand why expanding education on this topic is crucial for caregivers and patients of the Caribbean. 

CITED: today.caricom.org, www.midwife.org, www.webmd.com