COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY MEMBERS OF UGONSA LAGOS ON 7TH OF JUNE, 2018.
The University Graduates of Nursing Science Association (UGONSA), Lagos State Chapter, on 7th of June, 2018 during her monthly scientific session, made the following recommendations as a way forward to better nursing profession in Nigeria, where over 220 graduate nurses were in attendance.
For Nursing profession to be at par with her sister professions, there must be a drastic change and approach towards quality nursing education and practice, we must be ready to purge the mechanism that have promoted mediocrity in Nursing over a decade. Furthermore, sequel to the complete overhaul of HND by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) of the Federal Ministry of Education FMOE. Nurses under the aegis of UGONSA in Lagos State have raised their voices in oneness to bring these underlisted recommendations to you as a way forward to bring nursing profession at par with other medical professions in Nigeria, to fit to the global scene of medical advancement in education, practice and innovations and also to create a niche for academic/career progression for Nigerian nurses. The following underlisted recommendations were drafted.
RECOMMEDATIONS:
1. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria(NMCN) as a matter of urgency must commence the process of drafting the curriculum for the Bachelor degree in Nursing and Midwifery( BNBM or NBBM), a six years programme to replace the present Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc) degree, and in the same vein to add academic value to RN/RM. Instead of incessant pursuit for RN/RM that lacks academic value, we can successfully pursue both with a bachelor degree.
2. All post basic programs should be at post graduate level to fooster career progression and academic advancements in relevant nursing specialties
3. Affiliate all schools of nursing to various regional universities and those schools of nursing which could not be affliated should be closed down over a period of time(i.e 10 years ) to give room for establishment of more departments/faculties of nursing sciences in Nigerian universities.
4. If we must retain Schools of Nursing in Nigeria, few Schools of Nursing should be available, i.e one(1) in each geo political zone of the federation. We observed , That there should be need for qualified registered nurses to practice at low level, as not all registered nurses will be intellectually fit to advance with others. Career progression for the this cadre of registered nurses should be drafted
5. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) should stop further accreditation of more schools of nursing, rather focus should be on accreditating more universities to award Bachelor degree
6. Relevant stakeholders in the academic cohorts(Lecturers and professors), in collaboration with NMCN should liase with relevant authorities to move the Departments of Nursing Science to Faculty level, as it is done in the Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State.
7. NMCN should commence the training and licensing of lower cadre of nursing personnel, such as certified Nurse Assisitants( CNA) (maximum of 2 years course duration) to give registered nurses more time to focus on core clinical nursing interventions, reduce burn out on unnecessary tasks and preserve our cerebral colloquium
8. NMCN should come up with the job descriptions for each cadre of nursing personnel. UGONSA Lagos observed that lack of Job descriptions back up by law has resulted to frustration and intellectual boredom among nursing graduates and clinicans in recent times.
9. Expand the scope of practice for graduates of Bachelor of Nursing & Midwifery and draft out the job descriptions for this cadre, base on the curriculum, training and international best practices
10. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN ) with the relevant stakeholders such as The West African College of Nursing (WACN) should ensure the speedy approval of consultancy in Nursing Science in line with international best practices.This kind of career progression provokes healthy intellectual competitiveness.
11. NMCN in collaboration with relevant stakeholders should phase out the use of obsolete white nursing uniform in the clinical settings and should be replaced with scrubs as it is done in advanced countries, making the profession more appealing to many young school leavers.
12. NMCN should collaborate with relevant agencies and bodies to establish Nurisng Research Laboratories in the six(6) geo-political zones in Nigeria .
12. All nurses, nurse clinicians, nurse educators, nurse consultants and specialists, nurse researchers and leaders of various unions should dive into the political clime of the country to bring about the desire change will are yearning for in nursing profession.
We urge the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) to be proactive at this point, where other sister professions are moving with the speed of light, we shouldnt be left behind to occupy the bottom of food chain in the health sector.
NMCN, Nursing leaders, Nursing unions, professional organisations and other stakeholders must admit honorably that the current set back of the profession is traceable to their ignorant on how the paradigm of nursing education and practice have shifted/evolved over the years and inability to diagnose properly what nursing and who a nurse should be in the 21st century, and once an effort is not yielding required result, those in charge must be flexible enough to accommodate new ideas and brave enough to promote radical changes.
Articulating and adopting a model for career progression and developing new curriculum that will implement it, are matter that require an urgent leadership action. If not, we will remain like a group with enormous potentials, but with no future.
Sir, We urge you to bring this aforementioned recommendations to the notice of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, at the head office in Abuja. As we await further response on this, please accept our warm regards and best wishes.
Signed:
Nurse Awe Promise State Chairman
Nurse Oloye O. Abiola State Secretary
Nurse Famakin Oluwakemi State Fin. Secretary
Nurse Ogungbade Adenike State Treasurer
Nurse Salau Ayomide Publicity Secretary
Nurse Owusu Oluyemi Member
Nurse Adebekun Titilope Member
Nurse Odoka Sandra Member
Nurse Adebisi Adeola Member
ugonsalagos@gmail.com
