Part of our Nursing Councils and Associations series. Last checked: November 2026.
Barbados has one of the oldest professional nurses’ associations in the Commonwealth Caribbean. Founded in the 1930s and incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1943, the Barbados Nurses Association (BNA) has represented nurses through colonial hospitals, independence and today’s modern health system.
In 2026, Barbados’s public health system was short of about 200 nurses, according to the Prime Minister, and the government was recruiting nurses from Africa. The BNA, led by its president Dr Fay Parris, has pushed for better working conditions, safety from violence, transport for shift workers and stronger retention. This guide explains the BNA’s history, role, leadership and current priorities.
Imagine a nurse finishing an 11 p.m. shift at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown. Buses have stopped running, a taxi is expensive, and she will be back at 7 a.m. Her ward was short-staffed again, so she stayed late. She has heard that nurses from Ghana and Kenya are being recruited to fill gaps, and she welcomes the help, but wonders who is working to make local nurses want to stay. That is the question at the heart of the BNA’s work today.
What is the BNA?
The Barbados Nurses Association, formerly the Barbados Registered Nurses Association (BRNA), is a not-for-profit professional association that also has trade union status. It:
- represents nurses in negotiations with the Ministry of Health and health institutions;
- lobbies for better terms and conditions of service;
- promotes professional standards and continuing education;
- organises Nurses Week activities and awards;
- represents Barbados internationally as the national nurses’ association recognised by the International Council of Nurses.
History
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1930s | Founded by nurse Eunice Gibson amid discontent over poor conditions at the Barbados General Hospital |
| 15 February 1943 | Incorporated by an Act of Parliament as the Barbados Registered Nurses Association |
| 1957 | Recognised by the International Council of Nurses as Barbados’s national nurses’ association |
| 1990 | Obtained trade union status |
| Later | Founding member of the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) |
The Association describes itself as the second professional nurses’ association of its kind in the Commonwealth Caribbean.
Leadership
The BNA is led by an elected executive. Its president, Dr Fay Parris, has been a prominent voice for nurses in recent years, encouraging younger nurses to join the Association and pressing for reforms to protect nurses.
The nursing shortage in Barbados
In 2026, Prime Minister Mia Mottley put the public health system’s shortfall at about 200 nurses across the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and primary care. Causes include:
- migration of Barbadian nurses to the UK, the US and Canada;
- retirements;
- heavy workloads and burnout;
- limited career progression;
- pay and working conditions.
Nurses’ leaders have also described growing reliance on flexi-time arrangements to cover gaps, which they link to burnout.
Recruitment from Africa
Barbados has recruited nurses from Ghana in recent years and, in 2026, the government was recruiting through an Africa–Caribbean health partnership involving countries such as Ghana, Kenya and Ethiopia. Nurses’ representatives have welcomed short-term help, especially from nurses with midwifery and public health training, but warned that recruitment alone will not solve the crisis without equal attention to retention. Read about Ghanaian nurses in the Caribbean.
The BNA’s priorities for 2026 and beyond
- Protection from violence: the BNA has said it will champion legal reforms to protect healthcare workers from violence, which it describes as a growing concern.
- Sabbatical policy: speeding up implementation so nurses can take study leave and develop.
- Transport for shift workers: safe, affordable travel for night and evening shifts.
- Safe staffing: reducing reliance on flexi-time and overtime.
- Nurse wellbeing: investment in mental health and support for nurses.
- Education and careers: more training places, mentorship and specialist and advanced practice roles.
Other organisations representing nurses in Barbados
Nurses in Barbados may also be represented by the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), whose nurses’ division has called for stronger investment in homegrown nurses, clear career paths and safe nurse-to-patient ratios. The BNA and NUPW have at times spoken together on staffing issues at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Joining the BNA
Registered and enrolled nurses in Barbados can join the BNA. Benefits include representation, negotiation on conditions of service, professional development, networking and recognition through Nurses Week awards. Contact the BNA directly for membership details.
Working as a nurse in Barbados
Foreign nurses must be registered with the Barbados Nursing Council before practising. Most recruitment is through government programmes. For other destinations, see our registration routes guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Barbados Nurses Association?
The national professional nurses’ association of Barbados, with trade union status, founded in the 1930s.
Who is the president of the BNA?
Dr Fay Parris, according to 2026 reports. Check BNA channels for current leadership.
How many nurses is Barbados short of?
About 200 in the public health system, according to the Prime Minister in 2026.
Is Barbados recruiting foreign nurses?
Yes, including from Ghana, Kenya and Ethiopia through government partnerships.
But will recruiting from Africa solve the shortage?
It helps in the short term. But unless Barbados also improves pay, safety, transport and career paths for its own nurses, the gaps will reopen. The BNA and other nurses’ representatives are clear: retention matters as much as recruitment.
Your next step: If you nurse in Barbados, join or renew your BNA membership and share one practical problem, such as night transport or safety, with your representative this month.
Related: Ghanaian nurses in the Caribbean · Violence against nurses · The ICN explained
Sources: Barbados Today (January, May and September 2026; 2025 reports); CBC Barbados (May 2024); BNA historical information; International Council of Nurses. Check official BNA channels for updates.
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