Successful International Partnership Boosts Nursing and Midwifery in the Caribbean

A recent study highlights the effectiveness of an international collaboration aimed at strengthening nursing and midwifery services across the Caribbean region. The initiative, titled "Fostering International Collaborations to Inform Nursing and Midwifery Policy: A Caribbean Initiative," was published in the International Nursing Review.

Led by Eileen T. Lake, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, from Penn Nursing, along with co-author Carmen Alvarez, Ph.D., CRNP, CNM, FAAN, the project was designed to support the regional goals of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization (WHO) for workforce development in nursing and midwifery.

The Caribbean faces significant healthcare workforce challenges, including high migration rates and shortages of qualified professionals. To address these issues, the collaboration established a streamlined process for collecting comprehensive regional data related to education, practice, and policy, reducing the burden on survey participants.

The process involved developing a robust framework, engaging stakeholders, and utilizing a collaborative approach to survey design. The initiative successfully surveyed 20 Caribbean countries, achieving a 100% response rate from chief nursing officers and a 60% response rate from higher education directors. This comprehensive data collection not only informed workforce policy but also strengthened the Pan American Collaborating Centers for Nursing and Midwifery (PANMCC) network.

An unexpected benefit of the project was the enhancement of regional collaboration opportunities and the strengthening of existing networks. According to Dr. Lake, the results demonstrate the potential of coordinated international efforts to influence health policy and improve healthcare resource management in resource-limited settings.

The project was a collaborative effort involving seven Pan American CCs, PAHO staff, and 15 co-authors over an 18-month period, illustrating the power of international teamwork in generating meaningful health policy insights.

For more details, the full study can be accessed here: DOI: 10.1111/inr.70081. This initiative underscores the importance of strategic international partnerships to enhance healthcare workforce development in underserved regions.