STRESS, LONG HOURS, heavy workloads, injury and poor relations with other professions are some of the factors which are causing the shortage of nurses in Barbados.

President of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), Walter Maloney, said contrary to belief, it was not just about money. He made this point yesterday while addressing International Nurses Day at the union's headquarters, Dalkeith, St Michael.

He said those factors could affect the physical and psychological health of nurses and cause them to leave the profession.

"A demoralised worker is not a productive worker and this is especially worrisome because of the type of work you are called upon to do. Nurses have a sense that they are not valued by the health care system for which they work extremely hard.

"Money is not everything and the message must not be sent or given that the nurses are upset only because of inadequate pay."

In offering solutions, the NUPW president said more positions must be found for nurses that would allow them to be promoted and greater security must be provided for them, especially the community health nurses who often worked alone.

"Recognising expertise and experience, combined with more opportunities in management and a clearer voice in running the system would improve the status of nurses in their own eyes and the eyes of all of us for whom they serve," he said.

Maloney then called on Government, managers, employers, educators, nurses and their credit unions to "work together to create a healthy nursing work environment and ensure that the highest standards be maintained and the highest quality of patient care delivery continue in this country.

"It is quite clear to us that those persons responsible for running our health care system need to act, and act now, for not to create quality environments to attract new recruits and retain experienced nurses risk shortages that may endanger patients," he said. (CA)