Latest update November 23rd, 2024 1:00 AM
Latest News
Dr. Norton urges academic review of nursing school
Describing the final results of the Professional Nursing Programme as a “national scandal,” A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s shadow Minister of Health, Dr. George Norton is re-emphasizing the need for the subject ministry to reconsider its academic policies in regards to the profession.
Dr. George Norton
Earlier this month, the results of nursing students who participated in final examinations last October surfaced. The reports suggested that of a total of 120 students from the Georgetown School of Nursing, 19 were successful.
However, in a bid to shed light on the issue, Dr. Norton pointed to elements of the programme which he says is the basis of the academic downfall.
“It is terrible across the board… in Linden out of approximately 77 students, who wrote the exams 11 passed, in New Amsterdam, only a few students passed …. I believe that the administration needs to reconsider their course of action… A few years ago, the Government decided on increasing the student intake of the programme to satisfy the need for nurses in Guyana. However this is not the solution, because they lack the facilities to cater to the academic needs of large numbers of students at one time.”
“When that happens, the students suffer because there are insufficient tutors; the classrooms are crowded, making the environment not conducive to learning.”
On the other hand, the APNU Member of Parliament says that the administration needs to ensure that suitably qualified persons enter the programme.
“It is the responsibility of the Nursing Council to set the academic curriculum for the programme…but those selected to participate in the programme must be able to cope with the academic demands. In April 2010, a total of 255 nursing students entered the Georgetown School of Nursing. Just about half of that amount sat the final examinations in October, the others dropped out.”
In addition, Norton says that a significant number of nurses, who wrote exams to become midwives were unsuccessful.
“It is very disappointing that nurses are failing the midwifery exams because this is an area where there is need for more professional care. From the beginning lecturers at the Nursing Schools had warned against such a huge intake of students.”
However, Dr. Norton believes that the nurses should be allowed to rewrite the exams.
Meanwhile, some student nurses are of the opinion that the academic decline is due to “a tug -of- war between the Ministry of Health and the school’s administration.”
“Since we entered the school in April 2010, the administration did not want us, but the Ministry forced us in. Indeed we were a large batch and we had a problem with space and tutoring, but I think the administration is proving a point to the Ministry,” a 21 year old female student of the Georgetown School of Nursing asserted.
According to the nurse, the Professional Nursing Programme should be conducted over a three year period, but some students have been attending classes for almost four years.
“The final examinations consisted of three main components; a surgical, medical test paper and a practical, some of the top runners of the class have to rewrite parts of the exams and I don’t understand because the papers were based on flooding and road safety; any commoner could write it. I think it was tampered with and the Ministry should definitely investigate.”
When contacted for a comment on the matter, Health Minister, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran said that the issue is receiving the attention and assessment of the relevant persons.
He debunked claims of a rift between the Ministry and the administration of the Georgetown School of Nursing.
“I don’t believe that we have such unprofessional people working with us at the helm of the Georgetown School of Nursing.”
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Let us not be silent witnesses!
…Peeping Tom kaieteur News- Ray Daggers walked from Corriverton to Charity. It was a journey so epic it might have... more
Rising Gun Crimes in the Caribbean: Urgent Action required by all
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – There is an alarming surge in gun-related violence, particularly among younger... more
Weekend Cartoon
