October 21-22, 2005
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The bi-ennial Caribbean Student Nurses Organization (CSNO) convention was held this year in St.Kitts, West Indies on October 21 and 22. 10 Students from the Associate Degree Nursing division were able to attend to represent the University of the Virgin Islands, St.Croix campus. This is the second conference that the students of the nursing division from St.Croix were able to attend. Two years ago, it was held in Anitgua, West Indies.
The conference consisted of multiple Caribbean Nursing schools presenting different topics of interest. There was also a cultural night where the students were able to show off their talents and their culture. At the end of the presentations, the students were taken around the island of St.Kitts to learn about its history and culture.
SNA president Lauren Thoen realized that the same challenges faced by students on St. Croix are universal throughout the Caribbean. Topics such as not enough support from staff nurses on the floor and discrimination of nurses against HIV patients were really popular presentations amongst the students.
Overall, the students felt that they learned a lot from attending the conference and they gained valuable experience as a team. Not only did they learn from the presentations, but also by meeting students from all over the Caribbean and talking to them about their own experiences as nursing students in their country.
I had a great learning experience. Sharla James, SNA Vice President said. It was nice to be able to interact with students from all over the Caribbean and compare our experiences with them.
The nursing students that were able to attend were: Linda Campbell, Jeanne Ebuen, Sharla James, Colette Jensen, Claudina Jones, Judy Matthews, Jeannie Mathurin, Erica Rivera, Lauren Thoen and Khrisna Victor.