The Barbados Community College’s (BCC) Nursing Department has had a successful academic year, achieving high pass rates, several student and staff awards, and private sector scholarships.

Three such awards were handed out at the Barbados Nurses Association (BNA) Awards Ceremony and Dinner, where longstanding BCC Nursing Tutor Shirley Pilgrim received the prestigious BNA Nursing Educator Award.

Additionally, members of the BCC family, Myeisha Garnes and Kristyn Rose-Keizer, were also recognized for their dedication to the field, receiving the Student Nurse of the Year Award and Student Nursing Assistant of the Year Award respectively.

These accolades are at least partially a result of the remarkable improvement in BCC’s nursing education.

BCC Principal Annette Alleyne explained that BCC’s regional nursing examination pass rates, which were as low as 13% in 2018, have increased to 80%-90%.

She made this announcement at the Ramona Mascoll Memorial Scholarships presentation, where three BCC nursing students were awarded the scholarships.

A partnership with CIBC Caribbean, the scholarships honour the late Ramona Mascoll, a former BCC student and healthcare worker who passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The scholarship, valued at BDS $2,000 will cover the registration fees, books and uniforms of nursing students Shaniqua Neblett, Jessica Holder and Giselle Griffith, who thanked CIBC Caribbean and the college for their assistance.

Speaking on their behalf, Shaniqua Neblett noted the significance of this year marking the first time a nursing assistant student received the scholarship, reflecting the important contribution of every role within the nursing profession.

Director of Personal and Business Banking at CIBC Caribbean Michelle Whitelaw, stressed the importance of uplifting members of the nursing profession, emphasizing the vital part they played in our society on a whole.

Congratulating the recipients, Whitelaw encouraged them to focus on their goals and passions.

“This profession is often described as a calling,” Whitelaw said. “Always remember the reason you chose nursing and the impact you can make in the lives of others.”

As the academic year comes to an end, the BCC applauds the hard work of the staff and students of the Nursing Division, and as it looks towards accepting another cohort of hopeful nurses, the institution is excited to see what further achievements are in store for its highly decorated division.