Jamaica online programme scouting for trainees to do elderly care work in the US

Vincentians are being invited to take advantage of opportunities in the overseas health sector through the Health, Education and Counselling Institute (HECOIN), an online training programme which provides certification in a number of nursing related disciplines.

HECOIN is a Jamaica-based online programme founded by nursing educator, Dr Clover Jarrett, more than three decades ago, and recently certified close to a dozen students as Patient Care Technicians.

In an interview with SEARCHLIGHT, HECOIN President, Dr Colin Jarrett said the courses of the programmes licenses students to enter the job market in the United States (US).

“The world is ageing, and as such, any course in elderly care is market ready and driven. Graduates of the programme who are employed overseas have stated that in two weeks of working, they are able to see the returns of their full tuition fee.”

In the past, HECOIN has been accredited and approved by HEART Trust/NCTVET, City and Guilds of London and OTHM of London. Jarrett said it currently partners with Global Education Platform and CICA International University and Seminary, through which it is able to offer online international degrees completed in between six to sixteen months from Chichester, Gloucestershire, California, among other top-ranking institutions.

Dr Jarrett said potential students from the Caribbean region have recognized that building careers in the US can be “lucrative” and they are keen to capitalize on opportunities.

“Caribbean nationals have been enrolling on our programmes as many of them see USA as a lucrative alternative for them. We emphasize that international certification is the way to go, and with nursing being recession-proof and in high demand, Caribbean nationals are eager to make themselves marketable.”

Students were exposed to various topics to include introduction to nursing assistant, patient and resident rights, disaster management, body mechanics, medical and surgical asepsis and elderly care nursing. In addition, students were expected to grasp the 24 clinical skills given in video format, as well as a demonstration process for hand-washing, bed-making, temperature, pulse and respiration and blood pressure, ambulation and patient care skills.

The students’ final external examinations with the American Allied Health/AAH in the USA and were required to score at least 80 percent in all internal tests, assignments by the facilitator and administration, as well as final internal and external examinations to graduate the course. The robust programme included theory of approximately four months, two-months practicum, and the remaining time for practice tests, internal final tests and the external test.

Dr Jarrett explained that students are given assistance with job placement, provided that they meet the course and immigration requirements.

“We currently have a Vincentian in the PCT course who will begin practicum later this month at a Nursing Home in St Vincent. We are in dialogue with Medical Centres and Hospitals in an effort to meet the high demand of students in coming months. The Nurse on duty will carry out the rigorous assessment and submit via email to the Chief Nursing Officer at HECOIN.”

The next intake of students for HECOIN is due to commence this month, September 2024, and will be repeated in November 2024, and January 2025.