ST. THOMAS — With a successfully hearing where senators unanimously supported a measure that aims to, for the first time, establish a bachelor’s of science in nursing program at the University of the Virgin Islands’ St. Croix campus, and falling on the first day of American Education Week, freshman Senator Kurt Vialet, the chief sponsor of bill no. 31-0138, continues to cement his position as a major advocate for education in the territory, according to multiple senators at the Earl B. Legislative Hall here on Monday. Previously, UVI St. Croix only offered an associate degree in nursing.
Funding for the measure would be provided through $432,000 already secured in UVI’s 2015-16 fiscal year budget.
“One would need to have rock in their head not to support this bill,” said Sen. O’Reilly, during the Committee on Rules and Judiciary hearing, commending Mr. Vialet for the measure.
“I think it’s an important measure and one that secures his position as an individual who believes in improving the education system in our territory, and as a person who has pledged his support for the district of St. Croix.”
Sen. Novelle Francis said the bill was “long overdue,” joining Mrs. Rivera-O’Reilly in her praise for Mr. Vialet. The former police chief and commissioner also acknowledged Senator Marvin Blyden, the measure’s co-sponsor.
It’s “a move in the right direction,” Mr. Francis went on, as it would improve education “and lead to a higher level of quality healthcare.” He also said the measure would prevent further disruption of family life for those seeking the degree, as they would not have to travel to St. Thomas, where extra funds for housing and other living expenses would be expended. “I think it’s somewhat of a no-brainer,” Mr. Francis said.
And Sen. Jean Forde, chairman of the Committee on Education and Workforce Development, hailed the measure as important, following his colleagues by commending the sponsors of the legislation.
“This is great for our community as we seek to improve our healthcare system in the Virgin Islands,” Mr. Forde said. “We’re certainly going to make sure that we have adequate [and] qualified staffing to produce a healthcare system in the Virgin Islands [that’s] second to none.”
Senator Vialet, during his introductory remarks, said both UVI officials and members of the Virgin Islands Board of Nurse Licensure expressed their support for the measure.
“In this day and age, when good healthcare is on the minds of everyone, it is important that we have a nursing program on the island of St. Croix that would allow young ladies [and] young men to achieve a bachelor’s degree in this particular area,” Mr. Vialet said. He later said that the program’s availability on the St. Croix campus was also needed because “it is well-known that if you are trained in a jurisdiction, the likelihood of you staying in that jurisdiction increases. So if we train nurses on St. Croix, the likelihood is that they’re going to remain on St. Croix.”
Mr. Vialet said, to his surprise, upon visiting the Roy Lester Schneider Hospital here, he saw former students from St. Croix, trained to be nurses at the UVI campus here, working at the facility.
“We want to build our hospital on St. Croix,” Mr. Vialet went on. “We want to build healthcare on St. Croix and it’s important that we have nurses that are going to be rotating throughout the senior citizens’ homes, the hospital — and provide that service to the island of St. Croix.”
The measure was approved without opposition, breezing through the committee with the support of Senators Forde, Neville James, Francis, Gittens, Justin Harrigan, Sr. and Rivera-O’Reilly. Senator Janet Millin Young was absent.
Tags:
bachelors in nursing,
senate democrats,
senator kurt vialet,
uvi st croix
Share On Facebook
Tweet It
