The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) of Ghana, has advised nurses and midwives to know their limits as professionals and strictly adhere to their job descriptions.
The regulatory body observed that some nurses and midwives went beyond their professional job descriptions and took upon themselves duties of other professionals within the healthcare delivery system irrespective of the legal implications.
Ms Pascalina Anupio Ayirezang, the Upper East Regional Officer of the NMC, gave the advice when she chaired the Bolgatanga Municipal launch of the Nurses Week celebration.
“Know your limitations, and do away with needless issues,” she said.
The launch, organized at the instance of the Municipal branch of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), was on the theme: “Nurses and midwives, our future: Caring for nurses and midwives strengthens economies.”
It brought together Regional and Municipal Executives of the GRNMA, officials from the Municipal Health Directorate, and members of the Association across the Municipality.
Ms Ayirezang noted that even though the qualities of the nursing and midwifery professions included compassion, care and kindness towards patients, it was critical for them to be mindful of their job descriptions.
She urged them to help humanity with outmost professionalism to promote efficient healthcare services, and reiterated that, in their quest to be professional, they must know their limits as per their respective job descriptions.
The NMC Officer noted that despite the GRNMA’s continuous support and intervention for members with legal and other challenges, the psychological impact on such members who unfortunately found themselves in trouble was enormous.
She further admonished them to support each other at their respective workplaces, and avoid remarks such as “And so what?” in response to self-introductions from their colleagues who visited facilities for healthcare service.
She said as nurses and midwives rendered professional services, and showed kindness and compassion to members of the public, it was equally important for them to also recognize each other at their various facilities and show same kindness and compassion devoid of such distasteful remarks.
“Lets advise ourselves, support each other and stop working against ourselves,” the NMC Officer, who is also the Assistant Regional Treasurer of the GRNMA told members.
She entreated nurses and midwives across the country not to be frustrated and discouraged by the recent alleged assault incident at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, also known as Ridge Hospital, but stay focused and continue to be professional.
Addressing them on the use of social media, she cautioned against its negative effects, saying, “Social media does not forget, and whatever you post will come back to you. So let us be mindful of our posts and comments on social media.”
Mr Louis Tindan, a representative from the Bolgatanga Municipal Health Directorate, noted that the role of nurses and midwives in the healthcare delivery system was extremely crucial, and urged them to take their work seriously.
He stressed the need for them, especially those in the clinical settings to embrace research, and called on leadership of the GRNMA to add digital skills training and finance technological advancement to equip members with digital skills.
Mr Tindan, who is a Principal Nursing Officer (PNO) at the Directorate, observed that while nurses and midwives were highly knowledgeable in the clinical settings, some were knowledge deficient in digital technology in the era of fast growing digital space, and appealed to the Association’s leadership to support members in that regard.
