Nurses need opportunities and resources to ensure they can sustainably protect the health of the nation, says acting Chief Nursing Officer Annastacia Jordan.
She said it’s critical that nurses are further trained in various skills to enhance what they offer professionally and are equipped with the necessary tools.
“We must protect and support our nurses by providing the needed education and the resources to deliver safe and effective nursing care. As we look to the future, we must transform our profession from invisible to invaluable in the eyes of the public… We must chart the future direction of nursing, to build capacity in all areas, to ensure the sustainable growth of our profession [and] to meet the ever changing complex health-care needs of our citizens,” she said, while addressing a ceremony at Savannah Hotel on Friday to launch Nurses’ Week 2023.
“As such, our goal is to strengthen our health-care systems by investing in our workforce to address the changing and growing health needs of our population. Upscaling our nursing skills and capacity is an important step in giving nurses a greater say in decisions, affecting scopes of practice, competence and safety.
“Nurses will be better able to manage client conditions using innovative ways to work within existing constraints and perform their jobs more effectively. Consequently, our practice will play a strategic role in the future delivery of more efficient, accessible, affordable, acceptable health-care services for Barbadians and those visiting our shores through the pandemic.”
In his remarks, Minister of Health and Wellness, Senator Dr Jerome Walcott said that although the local nursing fraternity is faced with a myriad of issues, including fighting non-communicable diseases and the migration of health-care workers, Government is committed to putting measures in place to ensure the health-care industry is a desirable sector in which to work.
“In order to adequately address these challenges, we must pay close attention to the entire health workforce and especially the nursing component while ensuring that it remains fit-for-purpose to effectively deal with the aforementioned multitude of changing health concerns.”
The Health Minister said: “My Government has and continues to make significant investments in improving the capacity of the nursing profession. We recognise that nurses are critical in the government’s road map to achieving the sustainable development goals and ensuring Barbados’ commitment to universal health coverage.”
Walcott explained that his ministry has been listening to the complaints of health-care workers and is addressing them.
“We have been listening to your complaints about nursing shortages and conditions of work and lack of opportunities. We will work with you in this regard.”
He added that training opportunities are being provided and nurses are being trained in the areas of dermatology and public health. He said that midwifery training will resume next January.
Walcott also indicated that 40 people will soon be trained in pediatric nursing at the diploma level.
The theme for Nurses’ Week this year is Our Nurses, our Future. The week is internationally recognised from May 6 to May 12. (SZB)
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