Nursing Care in Haiti

June 16, 2017 8:26 PM

Haiti is a medical backwater. The country lacks state-of-the-art hospitals and clinics, modern medical resources, sufficient numbers of trained nurses, doctors and other medical staff, diagnostic technology, medical devices, and medicines. For decades Haiti has lived like a medical missionary's missionh where thousands of foreign non-governmental organizations, committed and compassionate nurses and doctors travel to offer medical service and then fly back to the developed world.

In January 2005, FSIL (Faculté des Sciences Infirmières de lfUniversité Episcopale dfHaïti or Faculty of Nursing Science of the Episcopal University of Haiti) was created with the affiliation of the Presbyterian Church. The nursing school was conceived as a part of the expanding medical outreach in Léogâne, Haiti. FSIL is the only baccalaureate nursing school in Haiti. It is the only nursing school in Haiti that trains nurses to perform specific specialized tasks. Its curriculum is a competency based nursing care that teaches nurses to critically identify the case specific responsibility and develop the problem solving model. The majority of other nursing schools in Haiti teach up to diploma levels. The students of this nursing school are taught by Haitians and volunteers from the United States.

FSIL is commonly known as Medical Benevolence Foundation (MBF). It was founded in partnership with PC (USA) and the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, secured ASHA Grants and support from partner congregations to build a nursing school. FSIL has a self-governing board which includes representatives from the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, MBF, PCUSA and nursing professors from throughout the U.S and its program is a part of the Episcopal University of Haiti and ranks best in Haiti.

The nursing students of FSIL receive practical clinical training at nearby Hôpital Ste. Croix. The students who receive scholarship support have to commit two years compulsory service in Haiti and they receive their diplomas only after completion of such service.

FSILfs latest achievement:

FSIL is the first and highest ranked baccalaureate nursing program in Haiti.
FSIL has graduated 136 nurses to date, 95% of whom continue to live and work in Haiti.

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