THE Nurses' Association of Jamaica (NAJ) is reportedly concerned that promises of huge salaries and other benefits are luring its health care professionals to Bermuda.

An article in Wednesday's Jamaica Observer suggested that a recruitment drive launched by the Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) could leave their island, already faced with a severe shortage of nurses, in dire straits.

"We are concerned that it is the specialist and experienced nurses who are leaving," NAJ president Valda Lawrence-Campbell told the Observer. "This is just the beginning and we are concerned about what will happen to (our local) medical institutions. It's a lucrative offer, so many nurses would go for it."

The BHB is allegedly offering specialist nurses a number of benefits including a starting salary of $54,500. The wage translates to more than three million Jamaican dollars a year. According to Ms Lawrence-Campbell, several nurses have jumped at the offer, with some expected to arrive in Bermuda this week.

When contacted yesterday, the BHB said it was aware of the NAJ's concerns, but that Jamaica was only one of a host countries it was targeting.

"The BHB understands the concerns expressed in the Jamaica Observer article, as other countries have also launched recruitment drives in Bermuda," explained Scott Pearman, the group's human resources director.

"However, the need to advertise in other jurisdictions is a reality created by the high demand for nurses world wide. We take a responsible position with respect to advertising in other jurisdictions, and have not recruited nurses directly from the Caribbean for a few years, nor have we targeted the region exclusively."

As reported in the Observer, the BHB has been specifically recruiting nurses skilled in continuing care, rehabilitation, critical care, operating theatre, theatre recovery, midwifery and psychiatric care. Also in demand are nurses for the BHB's medical and surgical wards.

The increasing migration of nurses had also been noted by the Jamaican Health Ministry. According to the article, as recently as last July the Ministry reported that the island's cadre of 2,547 registered nurses had a shortfall of 645 individuals; only 265 of 528 registered midwifery posts had been filled; and, 438 of the 1,099 enrolled assistant nurse posts were left vacant.

"There is a high demand for nurses globally; consequently, the BHB is proactively recruiting talented professionals at home and abroad," Mr. Pearman added. "More qualified nurses mean better patient care, and for this reason we are very focused on both recruiting nurses to the profession and retaining the nurses that we currently have.

"Our recruitment drive always begins at home in Bermuda. We invest $250,000 per annum in Bermudian students pursuing educating and training in health care fields. Bermudians who wish to train to become a nurse may now complete their first two years of education at the Bermuda College and then transfer to Hampton University in Virginia.

"Additionally, we have an extensive volunteer programme that targets middle/senior school students, as well as adults who are interested in pursuing careers in healthcare."

He added that the BHB's recruitment drive was actively under way in Canada, the United Kingdom, the Caribbean and Australia, via newsprint, web portals and international job fairs.