General Nursing Council of Dominica

Flexible

The General Nursing Council of Dominica is dedicated to protecting and promoting the welfare of Dominica's people by ensuring the competence and safety of practising nurses. This mission is achieved through strict regulation of nursing practices and the approval of nursing education programs, focusing firmly on public interest over individual or group priorities.

About the General Nursing Council of Dominica

The General Nursing Council of Dominica is the statutory body entrusted to set and maintain nursing education and practice standards in the Commonwealth of Dominica. Its primary objective is to protect the public’s health and well-being by ensuring that licensed nurses and midwives provide safe and competent nursing and midwifery care. The Council is also responsible for establishing fair processes to investigate allegations against nurses who may not have followed the code of Ethics.

Some Functions of the General Nursing Council of Dominica:

• Determine and maintain standards of knowledge and competencies in Nursing and Midwifery education and practice in Dominica.
• Issue and update Professional Practicing Licenses to all cadres of qualified Nurses.
• Prescribe requirements for Mandatory Continuing Professional and Educational Development Programmes for all cadres of Nurses.

History and Evolution of the General Nursing Council of Dominica

• Early Nursing Education: Initially based on the medical model, nursing education was not holistic and was strongly influenced by England's practices.
• Shift to Holistic Approach: A significant shift towards a holistic approach in nursing education emerged from the first West Indies Federal Nursing Conference in 1959.
• PAHO's Support: The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) played a vital role in elevating the standard of nursing education in the region, aided by Dame Nita Barrow's strategic leadership.

The evolution of the General Nursing Council reflects a commitment to advancing nursing standards and education in Dominica and the wider Caribbean region.