International University of Nursing-St. Kitts (IUON)
May 13, 2009

From Bake Sales to Car Raffles – International University of Nursing Student Nurses Association Help to Upgrade Services for the Elderly

Basseterre -- The Student Nurses Association of the International University of Nursing (IUON) made a donation of medical equipment and supplies to the Home Care Officers,  who provide services for the elderly in St. Kitts.

As a result of the donation, the officers, attached to the Ministry of Community and Social Development, will be able to take on a new level of professionalism as they carry out their daily duties. During their clinical placements on visits with Home Care Officers, the IUON students recognized that the client care functions carried out by the officers could be enhanced if they received medical tools to more closely monitor the health of the individuals they served.
 
Jane Williams, president of the IUON Student Nursing Association, commended the home care project officers saying that, “they take care of the most vulnerable and needy of the population.” She added that after some of the nursing students accompanied the home care officers on visits to the elderly, “they were willing to do whatever it took to help upgrade this critical service.”

Early attempts at raising funds included selling cookies which soon evolved into the raffling of one of their vehicles to make enough funds to purchase the items. “We worked hard to get this for you because it means that much to us,” said Jane Williams.

The presentation ceremony held in the IUON Simulation Center for Clinical Interdisciplinary Practice (SCCIP), started with greetings from IUON Dean for Nursing Dr. Beverly Bonaparte.  Also present were, Ms. Jovil Martin, Director of Community and Social Development, and Professor Juliette Battice, faculty advisor for the Student Nurses Association.

This particular gesture was highly commended by the home care officers, one of whom reported that it boosted morale concerning the services they provide which is seldom applauded. Each home care officer was presented with a package containing a glucometer, test strips, alcohol swipes, needle container, digital blood pressure cuffs and thermometer. The glucometer is an easy to use at-home blood sugar monitoring device that provides instant feedback on blood sugar levels.  All the instruments provided help in the diagnosis and monitoring of chronic non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, which are prevalent locally. The home care officers were also provided with technical training in the use of each item they received as well as handouts for future reference.

Ms. Martin, expressed gratitude to the nursing school for its continued partnership with her ministry stating that, “the equipment provided would add significantly to the efficiency of the home care officers’ jobs.” Ms. Martin assured the nurses that the items would be cared for and treasured.

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The International University of Nursing (IUON) is located on the island of St. Kitts. The University offers professional nursing programs that prepare graduates for nursing positions in the U.S., the Caribbean and globally. The University is home to the Simulation Center for Clinical Interdisciplinary Practice-St. Kitts (SCCIP) which houses a 24-bed virtual hospital with state of the art simulation equipment. Also located on the same campus is the University of Medicine and Health Sciences.