MAY 12 is Florence Nightingale’s birthday and is celebrated annually as International Nurses Day. This year’s theme, ‘Our Nurses. Our Future. The economic power of care’, was a thought-provoking one. Additionally, Nurses’ Week in Jamaica is celebrated in the month of July, instead of the month of May with the rest of the world. One of the reasons for the change is to have the celebration coincide with Nurses Association of Jamaica Founder’s Day, which is celebrated on July 19. This year, Nurses’ Week was celebrated during the week of July 14, 2024 under the theme Our Nurses. Our Future. The economic power of care — consistent with that of International Nurses Day.

The International Council of Nurses, in coining the theme for International Nurses Day, contemplated the impact it would have on reorienting the perception of nursing as well as highlighting that investment in nursing will produce social and economic benefits. Viewed as the heart of the health-care system, nurses’ contributions are usually undervalued and often suffer financial hardship. Just recently, nurses locally were considering industrial action in order to have outstanding compensation matters addressed by the relevant ministries. This is a possible indication of the level of support for local nurses.

It appears that little emphasis is placed on nursing as critical to the broader economic landscape but rather on nursing contribution to the well-being of individuals, families and communities. The theme, however, highlights the indispensable role of nursing in shaping a sustainable and prosperous nation. Of note is that nurses account for nearly 59 per cent of the health workforce globally; this suggests they have pivotal roles to play in the delivery of health-care services. Nurses not only provide direct patient care, their contributions extend to health promotion, preventive care, and curative services. Preventive care and health education have the domino effect of reducing the incidence of chronic diseases, which will result in lower costs for health services, quality services and quality of life for individuals, families and communities.

Nurses contribute to the economy in a number of ways. Their contributions encompass: (1) improving productivity, (2) reducing health-care costs, and (3) supporting economic stability.

Productivity

Improving productivity involves nurses empowering individuals, families and communities to take control of their health. This results in healthier people and reduced costs for health services. Nurses not only promote public health and improve the quality of life, they ensure access to well-needed health-care services, thereby reducing health disparities and ensuring equitable access by all. For example, family nurse practitioners and community nurses serve as primary care providers in deep-rural and underserved communities, providing services that would have been otherwise unavailable or inaccessible. This is inextricably linked to economic growth because improved health outcomes translate into improved well-being and reduced absenteeism, thereby improving workplace productivity, which ultimately supports economic growth. Further, it has been purported that healthier employees perform better on the job and contribute significantly to the economy. It is often said the “a healthy nation, is a wealthy nation”.

Health-care costs

It can also be articulated that nurses play a crucial role in reducing costs for health-care services. They are usually the first point of contact, playing pivotal roles in early detection and disease management. Reducing costs is achieved through care coordination, health education — especially regarding healthy lifestyle choices, preventive care and early intervention. Additionally, nurses’ role in providing curative services cannot be ignored because nurse-led clinics manage chronic conditions, thereby preventing hospital admissions and medical procedures, which are costly. It has been argued, generally, that nursing care results in patients receiving care at the right time, reduction in unnecessary tests, shorter hospital stays, fewer complications, and lower health-care service costs. In Jamaica it is often said that patients are more satisfied with services provided by a family nurse practitioner. Their work was recently bolstered with the pronouncement that this category of nurses will be given prescriptive rights, albeit restrictive. This has been a long-standing debate and as such, it is a move in the right direction as we invest in nurses and harness the economic power of care.

Economic stability

Nursing has the potential to support economic stability. As has been noted, the estimated 29 million nurses globally contribute to improved health outcomes and the growth of economy. It is clear that nursing is the largest occupational group worldwide and as such, a significant part of the labour force that is ensuring effective, efficient, resilient and sustainable health systems. By and large, nursing provides employment opportunities, thereby contributing to economic stability. In contrast, we have an aging population and an increase in the prevalence of chronic noncommunicable diseases. It is therefore important for our Government to invest in nurses through education and professional development. In addition, nursing offers several career advancement opportunities which may lead to job satisfaction and retention. Noteworthy is that job satisfaction and high retention rates have been found to contribute to reduced costs associated with turnover and recruitment, and workforce sustainability, generally.

It is time for the relevant stakeholders to recognise that nurses’ contributions extend beyond patient care and, as such, there should be significant investment in the profession even as we seek to build a healthier future. Nursing is critical to the health-care system and has the ability to reduce health-care costs and positively impact society. Investment in the profession will not only improve health outcomes but also to the economy of the nation. It is therefore important that, as a country, we recognise the work and worth of nurses. This will not only empower them as critical health-care services providers but also make it possible to harness the economic power of care.

Adella Campbell, PhD is associate professor and dean in the College of Health Sciences, University of Technology, Jamaica.