NURSING students countrywide are up in arms against the Nursing Council, after being told that they would have to re-sit the State Final Examination amidst concerns that the exam papers were leaked.Disgruntled students in Berbice took to the streets on Friday after receiving the news at about midmorning. Most of the students were angry and shocked by the directive, relayed to them by one of the senior tutors at the school, located in Vryman’s Erven, New Amsterdam.

Students explained that they had proceeded on a two-week post-exam break, which concluded last Friday. They were all on duty at the New Amsterdam Hospital since Monday of this week, when it was rumoured that they may have to re-sit the Nurses State Final because of an alleged leakage of the exam paper.

The students’ resolute stance was evident in the slogans on the placards the bore: ‘We need our results’, ‘We refuse to rewrite.’ Student Nurse Reniska Marrs-Warde expressed disappointment over the confirmation of this rumour, and revealed that preparations over the three years demanded so much from students that it is unconscionable for students — who are anxious for results — to be told that their papers were not assessed and the only way to move forward in this career is to agree to a re-sit of the exam.

“…it’s not fair to us, and we will not re-sit the examinations,” Marrs-Warde said, as her colleagues consented to this position.

One of the spokespersons for the group, Mortimer Fraser, told the media that it is unreasonable to subject students to this arbitrary decision, and limit the direction of so many persons’ future to a concise timeframe due to a fault that lies squarely with the Council.

“I honestly don’t feel we should be the sacrificial lamb for sins committed by someone in the Council, and I stand firm (on this belief),”
Fraser said. Fraser, who is among three males in the affected batch of the female-dominated profession, said it is not possible to re-sit these examinations before the month of November concludes.

Further, calls were made for the Nursing Council to mount an internal investigation to ensure that the cracks in the system at that level are sealed, in order to restore confidence, integrity, fairness and honesty in the preparation and administering of these examinations in the future.

Student Nurse Aida Campbell, who has been in the profession since 1994, echoed the need for the Nursing Council to evaluate protocols and guidelines regarding the handling and security of examination papers. She highlighted the point that the integrity of all examinations set by the Council should be a priority, and the process must be revisited regarding fundamental practices and norms at the Council level.

“It has been long; it’s three long years of studying. As my colleague rightfully said, it’s not our fault. If this error was at the Council, I think they should deal with it internally, and not penalize the students.”

The student said there was no report of the Council’s facilities being compromised prior to examinations, thus suggesting that the matter is for the Council to sift through.

This news has far-reaching impact for students like Aida, who entered the profession as a Nursing Assistant back in 1994; entered the Midwifery programme in 2002, then proceeded to enroll into the Professional Nursing Programme in 2013. Results from this examination reflect a lifelong commitment to achieving the highest levels of health care qualifications available within the system for a nurse. Like many others across the country, she shares optimism of a reversal of the Council’s decision, allowing those who are successful to be licensed.

According to the nurses, their next step is to prepare a petition to the Council, asking that the decision be recanted; and they plan to meet with their colleagues in Regions 4 and 10 to hold fast on the position of not re-sitting the exams.