The National president of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives has expressed concern on the delay of the commencement of internship for BNSc graduates. He made this known while delivering his welcome address at the induction program for the newly elected state administrative council members of NANNM on the 14th of December 2015 at the NICON Luxury hotel, Abuja

 

According to the National president, "the much delay that is happening to the issue of the commencement of internship for BNSc graduates is of great concern for the Association. The unified scheme of service that is awaiting the consideration and approval of the national council on establishment is a twin issue to the intership. He firmly warned that "the association has exercised enough patience on this matter.

 

Jude Chiedu of Nursingworld Nigeria who covered the event also reports that the National president also observed that the clinical practices are bedeviled with many issues which he itemised as follows-

 

1) SHORTAGE OF NURSES which has affected the productivity, image and efficiency of Nurses. There are less than 20,000 Nurses in employment of the 73 federal health institutions in Nigeria. The shortage affects education instructions as well as clinical practices

 

2) INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT in our health facilities is less than international acceptable standard. You can imagine a nurse using mobile phone torchlight to perform Nursing duties. where lies efficiency and expected quality outcome?

 

3) The work environment in our health facilities are militating against the effective performances. Without a positive work environment the impact of our professional services will amount to nothing. The worst situation s the primary health care level

 

4) Professional jurisdiction are not religiously being adhered to. Nurses and midwives are prevented from carrying out thier rightful duties in some health institutions. This is contradicting standard world best practices. It is also contributing to the bad health indices especially in maternal and infant mortality rate

 

5) Quackery and the image of Nurse: Quackery is a cankerworm that is frustrating the efficiency of Nursing practices and creating a bad image for the profession. Quackery is a criminal offence and it is a great disservice to the Nation. All efforts should be directed towards reducing the menance of quackery to safeguard the interest of the massess.

 

 

The National NANNM President however noted that "it is pertinent to speak on certain topical issues affecting health care service efficiency and quality outcome in Nigeria. The central issue in professional practices revolves around education, regulatioin and clinical practices. Today, the challenging factors cut accross all these strata. The problem of inadequately equipped institutions for nursing education and absence of available opportunity for linking the two major type of instutiions offering education and training for nurses in nigeria remain a clog in the wheel of progress for the profession. The much orchestrated PGDN is yet to have a proper placement in Nursing education. 

 

He also bemoaned the fact that the regulatory body, Nursing and midwifery council of Nigeria is limited in scope of operation and empowerment. Inface, the absence of a board of management for the council is a disservice to the profession and capable of compromising quality health care services.