THE EDITOR, Sir:
SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS of registered nurses from various categories in the Jamaican health services have been migrating to 'greener pastures' in recent times.
Nurses have been migrating to the United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada and Caribbean countries such as Bermuda, Bahamas and The Cayman Islands, where more lucrative offers are made.
The rapid attrition of nurses from Jamaica has resulted in critical shortage, particularly at the staff nurse level.
NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS
Clearly, this has negative implications for the health sector and we will be hard-pressed to achieve our primary objective - 'quality patient care'.
If we are to maintain a high standard of health care, we should at least endeavour to maintain a certain degree of stability in the system. This rapid turnover of nurses will certainly reduce the available experience levels and consequently affect our ability to competently and effectively care for our clients.
Now, let us examine some of the factors associated with this problem. Over the last five to six years, nurses have received only a measly 15 per cent increase in salary.
Conversely, inflation has increased by 59 per cent over the corresponding period (STATIN). Obviously, this has impacted negatively on the ability of the nurses to meet their basic demands. The question may be asked: How can you efficiently take care of others of you are unable to take good care of yourself?
The reality is, many nurses have to be working much harder - sometimes twice the regular working hours, in order to meet their basic demands.
ACUTE SHORTAGE
Actually, some of these nurses capitalise on the acute shortage which is in excess of 50 per cent in some areas. This also has negative implications as many nurses become tired, stressed out and at times, are absent from their regular duties.
If the nurses' pay should be converted to U.S. currency, you may very well discover that only Guyana and Haiti are paying their nurses less than Jamaica. Some islands in the region pay US$3-4,000 monthly while staff nurses in Jamaica take home a basic pay of less than US$1,000 monthly.
Amid all of this, our nurses have to function under very adverse conditions.
A great injustice has been done to nurses since the introduction of 'decentralisation', five-six years ago, involving reduced benefits. For example, nurses formerly employed to the Services Commission would receive 35 days vacation leave, 14 days departmental leave and 14 days sick leave per annum. Nurses now employed by the regional authorities receive only 14 days vacation leave, 10 days vacation leave and 10 days sick leave.
This is grossly unfair as nurses are frequently exposed to communicable conditions. In my opinion, the terms and conditions of employment for these nurses will certainly not foster a great sense of belonging nor commitment to the service.
It is not uncommon to hear demotivated and frustrated nurses saying 'I'll soon be gone' or 'I'm just passing through'.
I am, etc.,
NOEL JULIUS
Nursing Supervisor, Bellevue Hospital
