A Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana School of Nursing and Midwifery, Dr. Luke Larri has revealed that the role of nurses in health delivery globally cannot be quantified.
According to him, the nursing profession has transitioned from cleaners of furniture and providing support to become an important pillar of healthcare delivery internationally.
He said in the past nurses were not even allowed to enter the wards to speak to patients but now the profession has become the backbone for quality healthcare administration.
Dr. Larri made this known at the launch of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwifery Association (GRNMA) Korle-Bu District Week Celebration in commemoration of the founder of modern Nursing Day which took place in May.
“When nurses are on strike, it is as if the hospital is closed even though there are doctors, pharmacists and other professionals. This tells you the importance of nurses in modern-day healthcare delivery,” Dr. Larri stated.
He added that the outbreak of COVID-19 globally taught the world the importance of nursing because while everybody was walking away from patients, nurses were rather seen providing support and care.
Speaking on the theme; “Our Future: Nurses and Midwives in Solidarity Towards Advancing Quality Healthcare,” he charged nurses and midwives to improve on their communication skills.
The lecturer said modern nursing goes beyond just administering drugs and providing care to patients to a non-verbal form of communication where a smile and cheerful face can cause healing to the sick and give hope to the hopeless situation.
“We know as a country, nursing is not at the peak where we want it to be, we are at a path where the human touch is missing.”
“Years of teaching has revealed that we are at a point where majority of the people who do nursing are not called because as a nurse, one needs to have an innate ability to care for human before one can become a good nurse,” he stated.
The Director of Medical Affairs at Korle-Bu, who represented the Chief Executive Officer of the facility, Dr Frank Owusu Sekyere, said because of a lack of unity among health workers for that matter, many are being exploited.
“There is no way we can move forward if we don’t advance the unity because from where I sit, I receive lots of suits and cases for poor service delivery.”
He therefore charged the nurses and midwives to forge unity because in unity lies strength which is their motto.
The Chairperson of the Korle-Bu District branch of GRNMA, Mr. Michael Narh said the district consists of over 3000 nurses and midwives and the week-long celebration is to reflect on the past and the future of nursing at the facility.
Mr. Narh said activities lined up for the celebration include a symposium and lecture, medical screening in the adjourning communities on Wednesday, blood donation to the Blood bank, dinner and awards nights on Friday and crown it on Sunday with a thanksgiving service.
He further called on nurses and midwives in the district to exhibit high professionalism because they are the backbone of healthcare in this country.