Seventh cohort of nurses graduate from HSA’s Transition to Practice Programme

Six new nurses have officially completed the Health Services Authority’s (HSA) year-long Transition to Practice (TTP) Programme, stepping into full-time roles within the Cayman Islands’ healthcare system.

Their graduation was marked during a special ceremony held at the Hibiscus Conference Room in July, celebrating the culmination of the rigorous professional development programme conducted by the HSA.

This year’s cohort included:

• Nekeisha Fraser
• Courtney Charles
• Shakeilla Ebanks
• Navadine Prendergast
• Kimberley Wedderburn
• Ginelle Salanatin

The Transition to Practice Programme is a key post-graduate training initiative aimed at bridging the gap between academic studies and real-world clinical practice. Over a 12-month period, participants are immersed in various speciality areas across the HSA, gaining critical hands-on experience and broadening their understanding of the healthcare system’s inner workings.

Programme Coordinator Dr Dawn Kuzemski explained, “The structured support that TTP provides is invaluable. It eases the transition from student to practising nurse, improves retention, and ultimately enhances the quality and safety of patient care.”

This year’s cohort was unique in that it included two longstanding HSA staff members who transitioned from healthcare support roles to registered nurses: Nurse Kimberley Wedderburn and Nurse Nekeisha Fraser.

Nurse Wedderburn, who joined the HSA in 2004 shortly after Hurricane Ivan, described the programme as “an amazing experience that helped me in truly transitioning from the licensed practical nurse (LPN) role to that of a registered nurse (RN). Every preceptor was open and willing to teach and help you get the real-life experience needed to confidently practice. This programme gave me the opportunity to have structured guidance and support, which is immensely important for every new RN moving into their new role.”

Nurse Fraser, who has been with HSA since 2011, also moved into the RN role after years of service in outpatient and ward settings.

During her career, Nurse Wedderburn became the first Caymanian certified in wound care in 2018, later expanding her qualifications into diabetic wound care and, most recently, ostomy management. “I am currently completing the Ostomy Management Specialist Certification because it has been identified that this speciality is needed in our community as the number of ostomy cases continues to grow,” she explained.

She added that she has recently been selected from thousands of wound care providers worldwide to serve as one of the 28 members of the host committee for an upcoming Wound Care Conference overseas. “This opportunity has shown me that despite being from a very small country, I am able to make an impact or impression upon other providers worldwide through my consistent hard work to excel in my career and certifications.”

One of the most valuable lessons she took away from the TTP Programme was the confidence to ask questions without hesitation. “This programme helped me to be much more open to asking questions if I was uncertain, and to be confident in asking those questions as they could impact the safety of my assigned patients.”

Beyond clinical skills, for Nurse Wedderburn, the heart of nursing remains service. “Helping people feel better has always filled my heart with joy. Serving my country as a nurse is an absolute privilege and honour. I am continually inspired by the nurses and midwives who built our nation's nursing community and follow in their footsteps to provide the optimal care that our people deserve.”

Since its launch in 2018, the HSA’s TTP Programme has now graduated seven cohorts—totalling 40 nurses, including this year’s class. It continues to serve as a foundation for strengthening the local healthcare workforce.

Due to the programme’s success and growing demand, Dr. Kuzemski confirmed that the 2025–2026 intake will expand from six to eight participants. “This year we had more Caymanian applicants than ever before,” she said. “We wanted to increase the opportunity, so instead of six, we’ll accommodate eight.”

Transition to Practice programmes, recommended by international healthcare bodies such as the Joint Commission International (JCI) and the Institute of Medicine, are credited worldwide with improving patient safety, increasing clinical competence, and retaining nurses in high-demand care settings.

Similarly, in the Cayman Islands, with each graduating class, the TTP Programme is building a stronger, more resilient nursing workforce for the future.