Regional Examination for Nurse Registration, Commonwealth Caribbean.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Health Policy
• Caribbean Health

Background:

• Established in 1990, the Regional Examination for Nurse Registration was approved by the Conference of Ministers Responsible for Health in the Commonwealth Caribbean.
• The examination aimed to standardize and enhance nursing education.
• It also sought to facilitate reciprocity and ease of movement for Registered Nurses within the region.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the development and implementation of a standardized regional examination for nurse registration.
• To describe the collaborative process involving multiple stakeholders in creating the examination framework.
• To highlight the mechanisms for ensuring consistent nursing practice standards across the Commonwealth Caribbean.

Main Methods:

• Formation of a Planning Committee and a Blueprint Committee with representatives from various nursing and educational bodies.
• Development of a model based on mutually agreed competencies for Registered Nurse practice.
• Establishment of administrative procedures for test item development, examination administration, scoring, and results notification by individual General Nursing Councils.
• Annual meetings of the 13 General Nursing Councils (Regional General Nursing Councils - RGNCs) to prepare examinations, with rotating host countries and staggered 3-year membership for continuity.

Main Results:

• A standardized examination process was developed and implemented.
• A framework for nursing competencies was agreed upon, forming the basis of the examination.
• A collaborative annual meeting structure for nursing councils was established to ensure ongoing examination development and administration.

Conclusions:

• The Regional Examination for Nurse Registration successfully standardized nursing education and facilitated professional mobility in the Commonwealth Caribbean.
• The collaborative model involving regional nursing councils proved effective for developing and administering standardized assessments.
• The initiative has contributed to maintaining and improving the quality of nursing practice across the region.