Caribbean nurse shortage poses threat to patient care, CARICOM warns

Policymakers and health leaders across the Caribbean are raising alarms over a critical shortage of nurses and midwives, which is threatening the resilience and effectiveness of health systems in CARICOM Member States.

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The issue was highlighted at the opening of the 52nd Annual General Meeting of the Regional Nursing Body (RNB) on August 12 in Barbados.

Dr. The Most Honourable Jerome Walcott, Barbados Minister of Health and Wellness, delivered the feature address, lauding the RNB’s five-decade commitment to nursing excellence while warning that the profession is at a “critical crossroad.” He cited troubling trends in nurse retention, noting that many are leaving for higher-paying positions abroad. “Small developing states such as ours simply cannot match the salaries and benefit packages offered by the larger, wealthier nations. As a result, we are facing staffing shortages that increase nurse-to-patient ratios, create longer shifts, which can lead to stress and burnout, and ultimately can compromise the quality of patient care,” Walcott said.

Assistant Secretary-General for Human and Social Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, Alison Drayton, emphasized the urgent need for investment in the nursing workforce. Citing the State of the World’s Nursing Report 2025 (SOWN), she noted that one in seven nurses globally practices outside their country of birth, putting low- and middle-income countries like those in the Caribbean at risk. “It is imperative that the Region substantially increase its investments in the education, recruitment, and retention of nurses and midwives to safeguard the resilience and effectiveness of our health workforce,” Drayton said.

RNB Chair and Grenada’s Chief Nursing Officer, Nester Edwards, also warned of the consequences of persistent shortages. “While they are among the largest, if not the largest, segment of the workforce in our healthcare systems, the Region continues to face a perennial shortage of nurses and midwives with high attrition rates and migration to more developed countries,” she said. Edwards called for strategies to recruit and retain nurses, including those in the diaspora, through improved working conditions, technological advancements, incentives, and flexible working hours. She also emphasized the need to develop leadership, policy, and research skills among the next generation of nurses and midwives.

The three-day meeting will address migration and mobility of health workers, review the SOWN 2025 report, examine new developments in nursing, and discuss the results of the April 2025 Regional Examination for Nurse Registration.