By. Omar Silva, NP Staff Writer

Belize City, 21st February 2023

On Monday here in Belize City organized union workers for Belize’s largest referral Hospital KHMH, were expressing discontent over the sudden removal of Dr. Andre Sosa as Board Chairman; a group of nurses attached to the Southern Regional Hospital were protesting with concerns about ongoing issues in the country’s medical sector. They highlighted challenges like low wages, inadequate benefits, understaffing, and overworking conditions that nurses face on a daily basis.

But Some of the broader issues affecting nurses in the healthcare sector include:

1.         Shortages of nursing staff: This is a widespread problem in many countries, and it can lead to overworking, stress, and burnout among nurses. It can also affect the quality of care that patients receive.

2.         Low wages and inadequate benefits: Many nurses are not paid enough to meet their basic needs, and they may not have access to benefits like health insurance, paid time off, or retirement plans.

3.         Inadequate resources: Nurses may not have the supplies and equipment they need to provide high-quality care to patients. This can lead to frustration and burnout among nurses, as well as compromised patient outcomes.

4.         Ongoing pandemic-related challenges: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented strain on healthcare systems around the world. Nurses have had to adapt to new protocols, work longer hours, and put their own health at risk to care for patients.

5.         Inequities and biases in healthcare: Nurses may face discrimination based on their gender, race, or other factors. This can affect their job satisfaction and their ability to provide equitable care to patients.

6.         Limited career advancement opportunities: Many nurses report feeling stuck in their positions without opportunities for career advancement. This can lead to frustration and dissatisfaction in the workplace.

Of course, these are just a few of the issues that nurses may face in the healthcare sector. Addressing these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach that involves government policymakers, healthcare organizations, and individual healthcare workers themselves.

Here are some examples of multi-faceted approaches that policymakers and individual healthcare workers need to address the current issues facing nurses:

Improving working conditions: This could include measures such as increasing staffing levels, providing adequate resources and equipment, and addressing issues such as workplace violence and harassment.

Offering competitive wages and benefits: Policymakers can set minimum wage standards for nurses and healthcare organizations can offer competitive salaries and benefits packages to attract and retain qualified nurses.

Providing opportunities for career advancement: Healthcare organizations can offer training programs, continuing education opportunities, and leadership development programs to help nurses advance in their careers.

Addressing systemic inequities: Policymakers can work to address systemic issues such as racism and discrimination in the healthcare system, and healthcare organizations can prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion in their hiring and promotion practices.

Investing in technology: Healthcare organizations can invest in technology to streamline processes and reduce the workload of nurses. This could include tools such as electronic health records, remote patient monitoring, and telehealth services.

Encouraging self-care and wellness: Individual healthcare workers can take steps to prioritize their own self-care and wellness, such as practicing mindfulness, seeking out counseling or therapy, and finding opportunities to recharge and decompress.

These are just a few examples of the multi-faceted approaches that can be taken into consideration in order to address the issues facing nurses in the healthcare sector. However, it will take a collective effort from policymakers, healthcare organizations, and individual healthcare workers to create a more sustainable and equitable healthcare system for all.

The demonstration comes at a time when government is confronting mounting pressure to address the challenges facing the medical sector, among many other issues in various other government ministries.