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 sometimes go beyond their professional roles and assume duties of other health professionals, 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 by the Municipal branch of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), was held 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 although compassion, care, and kindness were essential qualities of the nursing and midwifery professions, it was equally important for practitioners to be mindful of their job descriptions.
She urged them to serve humanity with utmost professionalism to promote efficient healthcare delivery, reiterating that in their quest to be professional, they must know their limits within their respective roles.
The NMC officer further noted that despite the GRNMA’s continuous support and interventions for members facing legal and other challenges, the psychological toll on such members was enormous.
She also urged them to support one another at their workplaces and avoid dismissive remarks such as “And so what?” when colleagues introduce themselves while seeking healthcare services.
“As nurses and midwives render professional services and show kindness and compassion to the public, it is equally important for them to also recognize each other at their various facilities and extend the same compassion devoid of such distasteful remarks. Let’s advise ourselves, support each other, and stop working against ourselves,” she said.
Ms. Ayirezang further encouraged nurses and midwives not to be discouraged by the recent alleged assault incident at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital), but to remain focused and professional.
On the use of social media, she cautioned against its negative impact. “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,” she warned.
Mr. Louis Tindan, a representative of the Bolgatanga Municipal Health Directorate, also underscored the crucial role of nurses and midwives in healthcare delivery and urged them to take their work seriously.
He stressed the need for those in clinical settings to embrace research and called on the leadership of the GRNMA to provide digital skills training to members to meet technological advancements.
Mr. Tindan, who is a Principal Nursing Officer at the Directorate, observed that while nurses and midwives were highly knowledgeable in clinical practice, some lacked digital skills in today’s fast-growing technological environment and appealed for support to address that gap.
GNA