The month of May holds special significance for nurses across the globe as Florence Nightingale’s birthday, 12 May, is recognised as International Nurses Day and frames “Nurses Week” celebrations in various countries across the region. This year’s global theme, “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowering Nurses to Save Lives,” highlights the critical role nurses play in strengthening healthcare systems and improving health outcomes for all.
“Nurses are at the centre of our healthcare system, delivering compassionate, high-quality care every day,” Hon. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, Minister for Health, Environment and Sustainability states. “As a Government, we remain committed to investing in our nursing workforce to ensure sustainability, resilience, and continued excellence in patient care.”
The Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability (MHES), through the guidance and leadership of Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), Mrs. Felicia McLean, continues to advance key initiatives aimed at supporting and strengthening the nursing profession in the Cayman Islands. “As a nurse, I know that there is no better way to honour the dedication, compassion and services of my fellow nurses than to ensure that they not only feel but receive tangible support in their profession,” Mrs. McLean adds.
The first such initiative undertaken by the Ministry team has been supporting the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as it assumes oversight of the University College of the Cayman Islands’ Ruth Elenora McLaughlin School of Nursing, to ensure strong governance and continued excellence in nursing education. “We are grateful for the support which the Nursing Council of Jamaica has provided to us over these past three years,” explains Mrs. McLean. “However, the time has come for us to evolve, and local oversight of the school by our local council will mean a more hands-on approach to addressing the recruitment and retention needs, especially when it comes to attracting local talent.”
Additional priorities include establishing clear professional growth pathways, promoting safe and supportive working environments, and advancing legislative and policy reforms that enable nurses to practice to the full extent of their education and training.
Since assuming office, the CNO has led efforts to better understand workforce challenges through the commissioning of a Delphi Study, which examined barriers to nursing career development in the Cayman Islands, and identified targeted solutions.
The findings of this study will guide strategic actions to enhance professional development, improve staff satisfaction and retention, and ensure the continued delivery of high-quality care in the face of global nursing shortages.
Additionally, work is underway to update scope of practice legislation and the Code of Ethics, aligning with modern healthcare needs and international standards. “Forthcoming changes in regulations for key legislation such as the Pharmacy Act will serve to broaden the scope of practice for nurse practitioners within our islands,” explains Minister Ebanks-Wilks. “This will allow our nurse practitioners to grow and develop within the profession while also enhancing our nation’s primary health care services.”
“Empowering our nurses is a year-round commitment, achieved in a myriad of ways,” Mrs. McLean adds. “From small tokens of appreciation, to learning and development opportunities, and access to psychosocial and mental health support, all of these actions are necessary to give our nurses the resources, education, and authority they need to lead change and deliver high-quality care. Nurses are the heart of our healthcare system, and investing in them is essential to strengthening healthcare delivery, advancing primary care, and contributing to global health priorities such as the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Visible and tangible support for the profession is also essential in ensuring that future generations will choose to pursue careers in nursing. “There are 11 students who are set to graduate from UCCI’s School of Nursing next month,” Mrs. McLean explains. “Our Ministry is extremely proud of their achievements, and I look forward to welcoming them into this noble and critical profession. Nursing is a profession that offers not only meaningful local impact but also global opportunity, and it is our responsibility to ensure that we make this an attractive and accessible career choice.”
“The strength of any healthcare system depends not only on infrastructure and policy, but on the people who bring care, expertise and humanity to every patient interaction,” said MHES Chief Officer, Ms. Tamara Ebanks. “Our nurses continue to demonstrate extraordinary professionalism and resilience in an increasingly complex healthcare environment. As a Ministry, we are focused on creating the conditions that allow nurses to thrive; through strong governance, workforce planning, educational opportunities and modernised systems that support excellence in care delivery. Their contributions are invaluable to the health and wellbeing of our Islands.”
Recognising leadership within the profession is, therefore, particularly important in helping to ensure the visibility of the profession. This year, the Ministry sponsored the Eloise Reed Leadership award, given to the nurse who exemplifies the very best of nursing through compassion, clinical expertise, and dedication to both patients and colleagues.
This year’s recipient, Nurse Kimberley Wedderbum, was selected from a highly competitive group of nominees and is recognised for demonstrating clinical excellence, compassionate care, leadership within their team, and a strong commitment to professional development. Described by patients and colleagues as approachable, supportive, and dedicated, she has made a significant impact on both patient experience and team performance at the Health Services Authority.
“We are grateful to have Nurse Wedderbum and previous winners of this award as role models for both current and future nurses,” Mrs. McLean adds. “However, there are many people who continue to work hard to further their knowledge and skills, so I also want to acknowledge all the nurses who have pursued advanced education and training during this past year. Continuous professional development is essential in ensuring excellence in care and advancing the profession on a whole. And to all of our nurses: thank you. Thank you for your tireless dedication, for the exceptional care you provide, and for the commitment and passion that have laid the foundation for the strong and resilient healthcare system we are privileged to have.”