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Regional body observes lower migration rate of nurses
…but highlights need to improve nursing quality
Although there is need for research to substantiate a drop in the migration of nurses to foreign territories, Chairperson of the Regional nursing body, Elnora Warner, has insisted that observations are indicative of such a development.
Chairperson of the Regional nursing body, Elnora Warner
“We are seeing a slowing down of the movement of our nurses. Yes, research needs to be done, but we are seeing less movement outside the Region,” Warner asserted during an interview with this publication.
And in order to address the still subtle instances of migration, Warner is convinced that measures can be put in place to help retain nurses. This, she disclosed, can be done largely by improving the working conditions – physical, psychological or emotional – under which nurses are required to operate.
There is also no denying that the remuneration package for nurses must be closely examined. This is especially crucial, Warner said, in light of the fact that nurses are generally at the lowest scale of the civil service and “they really don’t deserve to be, because nurses really are one of the hard working sects of civil service.”
“They work shifts; sometimes they cannot even take a break during shifts because their role is very demanding in terms of the provision of health care. Nurses are the ones caring for people in the most vulnerable state and they themselves have to be willing to deprive themselves in order to provide that care…their lunch they can’t take sometimes because they have to be on their feet,” detailed a sympathetic Warner, who currently holds the position of Principal Nursing Officer in Antigua and Barbuda.
In order to maintain quality nursing standard, Warner pointed to the need for nurses to be provided with opportunities for continuous training, a notion that was amplified during a recent Regional nursing body meeting held at the Caricom’s Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, conference centre.
And based on discussions she had with President Donald Ramotar; Minister of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran; Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud and Chief Nursing Officer, Tarmattie Barker, Warner concluded that there are a number of measures in the pipeline to improve nursing care in Guyana.
“I believe I hear this…I hear the sentiments and willingness coming out to look at the important and valuable contribution nurses are making in the health care system and to a wider extent to the economy.”
According to Warner, it has long been established that “the health of a nation is the wealth of a nation, and when you have the nurses constituting the largest portion of the workforce in the health care delivery system, they are therefore making a great contribution to the health of the nation.”
In the quest to ensure that quality nursing service is available throughout the Caribbean, Warner divulged that recent moves were made to review and revise a standard for nursing education and practice. The revised standard, according to her, has been circulated, with the help of Caricom, to all nursing-learning institutions and the places of practice, to be used as a practical guide for self-assessment and to determine strengths and weaknesses.
“With this, they can see what is needed to improve and strengthen the system in the effort to produce better practitioners that would provide quality service,” Warner noted.
And the local nursing system is poised to so benefit, since according to Warner, plans are apace for the Regional nursing body to lend support to the local nursing system. Already, she disclosed, the Ministry of Health has been able to engage one of the regional body’s technical experts, who specialises in examinations, to help review and upgrade the local nursing programme’s curriculum.
Warner said that assistance is also likely to be forthcoming to measure and develop the kinds of testing items, in keeping with the format of the regional examination. This, she noted, will be done with the view of “harmonising Guyana with the Region…bringing it on par with the same practice and standard around the Region.”
Moreover, Warner noted that the Regional body is expected to meet with Guyana’s General Nursing Council in the new month to “generally assess and evaluate the structure, process and outcomes of the nursing programme and to, in some way, help pave the way for greater efficiency that can facilitate more positive outcomes.”
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