43,588 newly qualified Nurse Assistants, Nurses and Midwives have been inducted into the Nurses and Midwifery Council.
The inductees included 18, 869 Nurse Assistants, 15,752 basic Nurses, 8,364 Midwives and 603 post basics.
In an address at the induction ceremony on Tuesday in Accra, the President of Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives at the Department of Nursing and Midwifery, KNUST, Prof. Victoria Bubunyo Bam appealed to graduands to maintain a professional demeanour by dressing appropriately, speaking respectfully to colleagues and patients and refraining from engaging in unprofessional behaviour.
She advised inductees to adopt the responsible use of social media in their line of duty, cautioning them to be wary of the potential risks associated with social media use.
“Technology is good and the use of social media in our current dispensation cannot be overemphasized. Social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok and many more can be great tools for professional development. They can be used for connecting with other team members, staying up-to-date on industry news, and even engaging with our clients and their families. Remember that your online presence reflects your professional image,” she emphasized.
Prof. Bubunyo Bam advised nurses and midwives to pursue specialized certification programs, and engage in continuing education opportunities which can provide additional training and credentials in a specific area of nursing or midwifery.
“Currently the Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives, which is mandated with specialist training, provides opportunities for specialization in about twenty key areas; including Pediatric Nursing, Emergency Nursing, Neonatal Nursing, Oncology Nursing, Palliative Care, Advanced Midwifery, Well Woman Care, Mental Health and Family Health.
“These programmes prepare the residents for specialized roles and advanced practice. By upholding the values of the nursing and midwifery professions and striving for ongoing growth and development, you can establish yourself as a trusted and respected member of the nursing community,” she highlighted.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister for Health, Mr Kwaku Agyeman Manu stated that over 140,000 nurses in public and the private sectors are helping the ministry achieve universal health coverage, which he described as very rewarding.
He said the Ministry was committed to treating the nursing and midwifery profession fairly and with a lot of respect saying, “without the nurses in general, we will really have a hard time in achieving our goals.”
He urged the newly inducted Nurse Assistants, Nurses and Midwives to serve with diligence and humility in their respective lines of duty.
Priscilla Osei-Wusu Nimako, ISD
