Message from the Barbados Nurses’ Association

Greetings to the nursing fraternity in Barbados !

Today, the President and Executive Committee of the Barbados Nurses’ Association greet all nurses in Barbados on our special day celebrating International Nurses Day. The theme for this year is “Nurses A Voice To Lead: A Vision for Future Health Care”. International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world every May 12th, the birthday of Florence Nightengale.

Nurses have spent the last year working under extremely trying conditions but have shown continued commitment and dedication to our jobs.

The future of healthcare and ultimately patient’s access to care, will be tied to innovations in the field of nursing making this extremely relevant and timely for 2021.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has shown the world the important role that nurses play in keeping people healthy across the lifespan and have demonstrated that our profession is essential in shaping healthcare.

Annette Kennedy, the President of the International Council of Nurses stated, while there has been significant improvements to healthcare, there has also been significant innovations which assisted with the improved access to care.

In 2021 we will focus on the change to and innovations in nursing and how this will ultimately shape the future of healthcare.

In addition, pandemic caused a call to action, where we as nurses were called upon to manage institutions and purpose-built facilities to serve the Barbadian community for the maintenance of the country’s healthcare.

Nurses are human and not angels or superheroes. They have the same needs and rights as everyone else. They are skilled, knowledgeable, highly educated professionals who provide people-centred holistic care.

Nurses are now being recognised as the true backbone of healthcare and this saw the increased role of the nursing educators, nursing administrators, and many more nursing typologies coming to the fore.

The nurse practitioner is an essential solution to improving care to our Barbadian population.

A nurse practitioner provides exemplary care with a focus on disease prevention, mental health and wellbeing, and patient education.

As some nurses already practise in that advanced role, it is time that the register for the Nurse Practitioner/ Specialist Nurse be opened.

Therefore, we are asking the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the policymakers to open up the Register for the Specialist Nurse and the Nurse Practitioner.

I want to applaud every nurse, as every nurse became a frontline worker, who gave of their best during these difficult times. Conscious of the moment, we recognised that you have gone beyond the call of duty to help your country as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

On behalf of the Barbados Nurses Association (BNA), we want to thank you for the excellent job you are doing, and for your expertise, professionalism and dedication to keep the Barbadian population healthy.

Even though we are not able to celebrate in our customary way, we want you to know that we recognise the important role you play. Your role remains critical and vital, especially at this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As your Nurses Association, we remain committed in giving you support and
we join with the International Nursing community in wishing you a “Happy International Nurses Day”. (PR)