The president of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, (GRNMA), Mrs. Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo has cautioned nurses in uniform to desist from slaying on social media.
“Slay at the wards by doing what is right for your patients and clients, do not take to social media in your uniforms and be doing what is not expected of you. Nursing and midwifery are noble professions, let us maintain the respect of our profession, and let us do what is right”. She said
Mrs. Ofori-Ampofo explained that patients look at nurses in their uniforms and are comforted “if you are admitted at the hospital, all you see at the wards are the nurses so our sight is fulfilling to our patients and clients”.
Her comments come after a nurse went viral twerking in her uniform while on duty and another warning the public to run when a nurse is interested in their spouse.
Mrs. Ofori-Ampofo warned that the GRNMA will not tolerant such behaviors going forward and tasked the nurses and midwives to find innovative solutions to local challenges through the use of science and technology in their local communities.
The president of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives warned members against relegating their core duties at the hospital to family members of patients.
“Some of us are too laid back, if you are sleeping, the time to wake up is now, you need to wake up, take hold of the care of your patients and clients and stop relegating your own core nursing duties to the family members of your patients, do what you need to do”.
She was however worried about the lackadaisical attitude of some nurses in the country.
“In fact if you are a clinical nurse and you go to work and you are not tired, then you did not go and work because from the time you take up and the time you leave the ward, if you are doing what you need to do, you will feel too exhausted to do anything else”.
Mrs. Ofori-Ampfo said “in the past, what has kept the nurses away from the social media networks was because they were too tired, even family engagements like funerals and naming ceremonies, they were not able to attend”.
She urged nurses to take up other challenges and acquire more skills since they work for twelve (12) hours in a day. Adding that “i have seen a community health nurse, certificate holders become a PHD holder, so you can do it”
She continued that “sometimes our work looks like it cannot be measured but whatever we do at the clinical area is what pushes the health system because per our share numbers, we are the heart around which the health system revolves and it’s about time we take control”.
Adding that what is happening in other jurisdiction where registered nurses have control over their hospitals and wards is worth emulating in the country and that demands change in attitude and mindset among the nurses and midwives.
“Simple things you have been taught over the years that can help patients and your clients, what stops you from implementing it. You are waiting for a doctor to come and tell you do this or do that, and sometimes when doctors have planned their care and that is what you are following, you need to also implement your nurses and midwifery plan based on what is being done”. She said
Mrs. Ofori-Ampofo made these remarks at an event to mark the international youth day under the theme: “Youthful Transformation of the Health Systems through Innovation; The Nursing and Midwifery Perspective” with some nurses and midwives from ten regions in attendance.
