And to ensure that there is no ambiguity about temporary nursing licenses, this afternoon, the Nurses and Midwives Council of Belize sent out a press release.
In it they say that their role is to protect the public through regulating the practice of nursing, ensuring nursing standards and competencies.
The Council notes that in August last year, all nurses on temporary licenses that in order to regularize their status in accordance with the Nurses and Midwives Council Registration Act revised edition 2011, they needed to sit the licensure examination.
They say, quote, "Initially the Council provided a two-year grace period to sit the licensure exam. At no point did the Council refuse to issue nursing licenses. The Council issued 57 temporary nursing licenses with expiration dates into 2022/2023, thus all nurses are currently licensed. In view of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the chronic shortage of nurses, the Council has approved an additional year making it a three-year grace period for nurses that are on a temporary license to sit the exam. The extension of the temporary license will provide the nurses with four opportunities to sit the examination. Note that all Belizean Nurses are required to sit this exam to obtain a license to practice in Belize." End quote.
