The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is calling on Caribbean countries to take decisive steps to strengthen and expand advanced practice nursing as part of efforts to improve access to health services and build more resilient, people-centered health systems.
In a message marking International Nurses Day, PAHO noted that nurses make up the largest segment of the health workforce in the Americas, with nearly 7.4 million professionals serving across the region, including the Caribbean.
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According to PAHO, nurses play a critical role on the front lines of health care by promoting wellness, preventing disease, managing chronic illnesses, and supporting communities, particularly in rural and remote areas where physicians are often in short supply.
Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO’s director, said expanding the role of nurses is essential to improving the quality and sustainability of health care.
“Promoting advanced practice nursing, strengthening its role in primary health care, incorporating innovation and digital technologies, and increasing nurses’ participation in public policymaking are essential actions to improve access, quality, and sustainability of care,” Barbosa said.
PAHO defines advanced practice nurses as highly trained professionals who are equipped to assume expanded clinical responsibilities with greater autonomy, including assessing patients, making diagnoses, providing treatment, and monitoring individuals and communities.
The organization noted that more than 100 countries worldwide have adopted advanced practice nursing roles. In the Americas, countries such as Canada and the United States have well-established models, while several nations in Latin America and the Caribbean are working to develop the regulatory frameworks, educational programs, and care models needed to support similar systems.
Evidence cited by PAHO shows that when nurses are granted greater autonomy and institutional support, they can significantly improve access to health services, strengthen continuity of care, and enhance patient satisfaction through a more compassionate and people-focused approach.
However, the expansion of advanced practice nursing continues to face obstacles, including outdated regulations, limited specialized training opportunities, and resistance to modernizing traditional models of health care delivery.
PAHO said it is partnering with countries across the region to address these challenges by supporting workforce planning, strengthening interprofessional health teams, and helping governments develop modern regulatory systems centered on the needs of individuals, families, and communities.
The organization emphasized that expanding nursing roles is not only a matter of efficiency but also a strategic investment in achieving universal health coverage and ensuring health systems are better equipped to respond to the real needs of Caribbean populations.
