Nurse leader bats for greater incentives for colleagues
Published:Monday | July 21, 2025 | 12:12 AM
A senior member of the nursing profession is urging the Government to introduce legislative changes, among other things, to help retain and empower nurses in Jamaica as they continue to play a pivotal role as economic drivers in the country.
Professor Adella Campbell, dean of the College of Health Sciences, Caribbean School of Nursing at the University of Technology (UTech), Jamaica wants the Government to pass legislation that sets minimum staffing ratios for hospitals to prevent one nurse from being assigned to 40 patients on any one shift, which leads to burnout and frustration.
She is also pushing for increased budgetary allocations for better wages for nurses to bring them on par with their regional counterparts.
According to Campbell, despite the recent compensation review package, salaries paid to nurses are still low, especially when inflation is taken into account.
“Investing in better wages, safe and decent working conditions is paramount and is more than physical infrastructure or PPE (personal protective equipment). Nurses expect fair compensation aligned with skill, responsibility, and risk,” she noted.
Campbell was speaking at the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) LASCO Chin Foundation, National Nurse/Nursing Student of the Year awards on Saturday at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.
The professor and dean of nursing at UTech said she was perplexed by the move by the Government to recruit migrant nurses while Jamaican nurses are reaching out to the media regarding their inability to secure a job.
“I understand that the recruits are specialist nurses, but what about our Jamaican nurses who wish to be trained as specialist nurses?” she questioned.
In her interactions with various health institutions, Campbell said she enquires about the number of level-one nurses they need. Responses ranging from 20 to 150 are often given.
“Then I am told there are no posts. I also recalled that, in 2019, 1,000 posts were created. I also know that the NCJ (Nursing Council of Jamaica) licenses at least 400 new graduates each year, but where are they?”
She indicated that some of these qualified nurses end up working in call centres, fast-food outlets and haberdasheries. Campbell called for the “archaic” local nursing establishment to be addressed.
Campbell highlighted that globally there is a shortage of 59 million nurses, and there is a need for 30 million nurses to fill the gaps. She said Jamaica is not exempted, as the country has less than 60 per cent of the required number of nurses for the public health system.
Critical economic drivers
The UTech professor of nursing argues that while nurses are often seen through the lens of compassion, care, and service, the country should begin to view members of this profession as critical economic drivers.
Campbell contends that contributions made by nurses extend far beyond the walls of health and educational institutions and into the very heart of Jamaica’s national development.
Pointing to a powerful and direct connection between health and economic development, the dean of nursing said the World Health Organization has consistently underscored that a healthier population is a more productive one. Nurses are at the forefront of maintaining and restoring that health, she added.
Additionally, she said the International Council of Nurses has intimated that investing in the nursing workforce yields a triple return in improved health outcomes, economic growth and global health security.
Emphasising that healthy people build strong economies, Campbell said the link between health and wealth is undeniable. “When Jamaicans are healthy, they can go to school, work productively, care for their families, and contribute to community life. And who is at the centre of maintaining this health? Our nurses, and I am not bragging because I am a nurse. This is fact,” she said.
She said the more than 7,000 registered and enrolled nurses locally are not just filling shifts, they are stabilising Jamaica’s economy.
“When nurses support the health and wellness of our population, businesses benefit from fewer sick days, higher employee retention, and increased output. This leads to greater national productivity and, by extension, economic growth,” she said.
While recognising the significant contributions made by nurses through remittances flowing into the country, Campbell said the country must invest more aggressively in retaining nurses to boost the local workforce.
She recommends greater investment in nursing education and scholarships (such as the Barry Wint Scholarships), particularly in underserved areas.
Campbell also wants nurses to play a greater role in formulating health policy as they serve not just at the bedside, but at the boardroom level.