General indiscipline among some Nurses in public health facilities in the country has been identified as one of the major factors damaging the good image of the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
Dr Abdul-Razak Dokurugu, the Deputy Director of the GHS in charge of Clinical Health of the Upper East Region made the observation during a joint matriculation ceremony held for new students of the Zuarungu Nursing Training and the Presbyterian Nursing Training Colleges at Zuarungu.
He said GHS was the largest body that employed a large number of nurses after the completion of their programmes, but was worried about the spate of indiscipline exhibited by some of them after employment.
He cited negative attitudes of some nurses towards patients as; attending to patients whilst on phone, bad dress code, lateness and laziness to work as some examples of indisciplined behavious nurses put up.
“As a Corporate Organisation, we are looking forward to receiving higher trained and skilled nurses but will not countenance misbehaviours that are against the very core values of the Ghana Health Service”, Dr Dokurugu warned.
Mrs Rebecca L. Kpare, the Regional Officer of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana, who read a speech on behalf of Mr Felix Nyante, Registrar of the Council admonished the student nurses to take their studies seriously and to become patient advocates after completing their programmes.
He gave the assurance that the Council would continue to review programmes to meet the modern trend of nursing and cited the recent introduction of the study of Sign Language, French in the Colleges in the country and Health Journal as part of the council’s programmes.
Highlighting some of the challenges confronting the Zuarungu Nursing Training College, the Principal of the College Mr Michael Yidana Mantamia mentioned the lack of accommodation for both staff and students, lack of furnished ICT Laboratory and Library and lack of means of transport.
Whilst lauding the efforts of Mr Dominic Ayinne, the Member of Parliament for the Bolgatanga East Constituency, for supporting the School, the Principal called on the Government and other Corporate bodies throughout the country to come to the aid of the School.
The Regional Minister, Mr Rockson Bukari, said that the ruling government had put in place measures to ensure that all stalled GETFUND projects were completed, and assured the school that they would also benefit from such project.
A total number of 453 students from both institutions were matriculated.
Whilst the Zuarungu Nursing Training College matriculated 71 into General Nursing and 295 Clinical Nursing Assistants, the Presbyterian Nursing Training College matriculated 87 students for General Nursing.
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Source: GNA