The first nursing conference in Cayman: Ana Bassil, Baptist Health, Hazel Brown, HSA Chief Nursing Officer, Barbara Russell, Baptist Hospital, Dr Beverly Bonaparte, Medgar Evers College, Shirline Henriques, HSA Deputy CEO, Lory Gonzalez, Baptist Hospital and Dr Peter Khamvongsa, Baptist Health.

An explosion of knowledge among professionals and patients and numerous changes in health care in the last several years is impacting how nursing is undertaken today, according to Dr Beverly Bonaparte of Medgar Evers College who spoke at the first Nursing Conference at the Marriott Grand Cayman on 11 May.

“Consumers are extremely knowledgeable about their own health and health care issues and injuries,” said Dr Bonaparte.

“Patients ‘Google’ everything on the Internet and they are demanding more quality. This is happening in the US and the rest of the world. The escalating cost of health care is effecting how many days we spend in the hospital. Remember when mothers could spend 21 days in the hospital after having a baby? A couple of years ago they had to pass legislation to let the mother stay for more than 24 hours.”

Dr Bonaparte explained that these are some of the many factors that are creating more challenges for nurses. Recent studies on the increasing workload on nurses are also increasing nurse burnout, low job satisfaction, increased injuries and a higher level of stress.

These issues can also impact patients.

She noted that staffing is especially critical when it comes to level of experience and type of nursing. For instance, a new graduate nurse doesn’t have the same level of experience necessary to be in charge of the Critical Care Unit alone. And so it is important that nurses have input in how units are staffed with the right level of training and experience on every shift. 

She noted that if a nursing schedule is not safe, nurses need to be part of the solution and make sure they are heard by administration.

The HSA Chief Nursing Officer, Hazel Brown, noted there is a shortage of nurses in the Cayman Islands. The challenge is to find ways to train more nurses locally and to retain the current nursing staff and to make sure they get the continuing education and support they need.

“The core challenge is that there are so few of us to provide so much for so many with so few resources,” said Ms Brown. “And we are competing with the rest of the Caribbean and indeed the rest of the world for qualified nurses.”

The Minister of Health Services, Hon Anthony Eden acknowledged that it is the hard work and dedication of nurses that breathes life into health care policies. 

“I have already told the Chief Nursing Officer that this conference should be held annually as part of International Nurses Week,” said Mr Eden.

“This is necessary not only for your personal edification, but also for your professional registration to practice here. Cayman is somewhat isolated; this presents challenges for healthcare professionals who must, each year, achieve and meet the requirements under the Health Practice Law for continuing education.”

shurna@caymannetnews.com