Final-year nursing students at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus are set to benefit from a new hands-on initiative aimed at easing the transition from academic study to professional healthcare practice.

The campus has officially introduced its Pre-Mentorship Programme, a structured support system designed to equip nursing students with the practical insight, confidence, and professional guidance needed as they prepare to enter the workforce.

Speaking at the programme’s launch, Minister of Health, the Honourable Sir Molwyn Joseph, underscored the importance of early professional guidance in shaping competent and compassionate nurses.

He described nursing as a vocation that extends beyond technical skill, emphasizing the personal and ethical demands of the profession. Sir Molwyn noted that mentorship initiatives play a critical role in preparing students for the realities of patient care and workplace responsibility, ultimately strengthening the country’s healthcare system.

Sir Molwyn also welcomed the shift toward face-to-face engagement, explaining that while mentorship support had previously been offered mainly through virtual platforms, the Five Islands Campus is now creating space for direct interaction between mentors and students.

According to the Health Minister, in-person engagement allows for stronger professional relationships, clearer expectations, and a deeper understanding of the standards required in clinical environments.

The Pre-Mentorship Programme provides students with focused academic support, professional development coaching, leadership training, and exposure to clinical and workplace protocols. The initiative aims to ensure graduates are not only academically qualified, but emotionally prepared and ethically grounded as they enter modern healthcare settings.

Campus officials described the programme as part of a broader commitment to strengthening healthcare education and student outcomes at the Five Islands Campus.
They noted that by offering targeted guidance at this critical stage, the university is helping students leave the institution confident, resilient, and ready to meet the demands of the nursing profession.

The launch ceremony brought together government representatives, university leadership, faculty members, nursing students, and healthcare partners, reflecting a shared goal of building a skilled, compassionate, and future-ready nursing workforce for Antigua and Barbuda and the wider Caribbean.