Efforts continue to address nurses shortage

Director of Nursing at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Henderson Pinder says they continue to be creative in tackling the ongoing nurses shortage, including tapping into early retirees and looking outside Barbados to help boost the numbers.

He made the comments on the sidelines of a Cancer Support Services graduation, for a number of nurses who took part in a Nurse Enrichment Programme hosted by CSS.

He adds that going forward the Hospital will continue to tap sources outside of Barbados to try to find good quality nurses, with a minimum criteria of at least five years experience, competency and professionalism.

Mr. Pinder notes in the meantime they have generally maintained the desired nurse to patient ratio at the Hospital, despite some nurses migrating to other countries.

He says at least five have left over the past five months.

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