Nurses charged to improve public confidence in the profession

Nigerian nurses have been told to improve public confidence in the profession by meeting their patient’s needs promptly, providing them information and properly coordinate their care to reduce hospital bills and length of stay in hospital as well as other undesirable outcomes.

Directory, Nursing Services, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Mrs Dorcas Shonibare gave the charge in a lecture entitled, “Managing and Coordinating Nursing care,” at the second nurse-leader’s summit and 17th annual clinical nursing workshop of University College Hospital, Ibadan.

According to her, “patients’ experiences have been identified as an indicator for evaluating and improving the quality of care,” and thus feed backs from patients should be important to nurse leaders.

She stated that despite the many challenges in the health sector, nurses should always plan on how best to improve patient health status, reduce the need for expensive medical services, and facilitate the appropriate and efficient delivery of health care services in the hospitals.

According to her, nurses are responsible for the decadence in nursing services, urging that young nurses should be monitored to ensure their commitment to their profession and patient care.

She also challenged nurses to establish convalescent homes to further boost nursing care outside hospitals, saying such homes can further provide nursing care to patients that cannot afford hospital stay.

Earlier, head, Department of Clinical Nursing, UCH, Ibadan, Dr Patricia Onianwa told the 220 nurses of various leadership cadres at the summit that their role was central to excellent clinical nursing.

According to her, by ensuring a quality environment, they will be supporting nurses’ practice, the education of students, and the conduct of research, all ultimately supporting a patient-centred care.

She added, “Nursing administration should strive to structure nursing work in a way that supports nurses’ being present for patients and families.”

Also, in a keynote address at the occasion, immediate past director of Nursing Services, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs Mojisola Okodugha said promoting nursing administration in clinical practice is key to moving healthcare forward.

She said this will not only enhance the voice of the patients/public, but ensure high quality care, ongoing learning and sustainable research and innovation.

Mrs Okodugha, however, stressed that discipline is important for nurses as skills and training, adding that it was vital to the life of the profession.