Poor nurses performance..Nurses Association questions whether Ministry is looking at quality or quantity?

Mar 09, 2014 News

The “disappointing results” of the Professional Nursing Students in October 2013 at the State Final Examination was the number one topic of the executives of the Guyana Nurses Association (GNA) at a recently held meeting.
Since the poor results of the examination were released recently, many from the political spectrum have categorically called for the nursing programmes to be revamped.
In a public missive, the GNA reminded that a few years ago they had spoken against the intake of the inordinate number of students into the programme which placed a strain on the tutor/student ratio.
In light of the proliferation of views, the GNA sought to explain their side .
Stressing its undying dedication towards the all rounded advancement of nurses, the Association explained that it takes full responsibility for its misgivings.
The Association also noted that in 2010, a new curriculum was introduced and it was a unanimous decision that it be tested with a small class at the Charles Roza School of Nursing in Region 10.
Based on the results, an evaluation would have then been conducted to identify strengths and weaknesses of the curriculum.
However, with the previous curriculum students took preliminary examinations (Part 1 & Part 2) “The new curriculum specified continuous assessment. This assessment required clinical instructors and assessment tools; neither of which were put in place. As a consequence, the General Nursing Council introduced an Intermediate Examination to assess the level of competency of the students.”
The Association further explained that while there are a few persons who are designated clinical supervisors (part-time tutors) that assist students on clinical areas, they are grossly inadequate.
Deep concerns were also expressed over the fact that the Ministry of Health continues to enroll students in the Schools of Nursing without meeting the stipulated criteria for implementation of the curriculum.
Moreover, the Association sought to question the Ministry of Health as to whether they are looking at quality or quantity.
Other issues highlighted by the Association which may be attributed to the poor performance by the student nurses are :reduced bed capacity of the GPHC. (The GPHC has been “down sized” to approximately 450 total bed capacity), the increased number of students competing with other health professionals (such as medical students, medex students, interns and other nursing students from Private institutions, and the GPHC’s “full time” staff) for learning experience; the inadequate number of trained full-time tutors; inadequate teaching/learning materials; the need for full-time counselors.
The Association also lamented the reduced time spent on specialized areas (reduced from 1 month to 2 weeks), inadequate lighting and ventilation in the classrooms, gross indiscipline of students, and the alarmingly high absenteeism rate and very poor punctuality as other contributing factors.
The GNA recommends immediate cessation of intake until there is some form of stability and measures are put in place to remedy the present situation so that unsuccessful students can be assisted; the review of the curriculum currently being used by the schools, the upgrading of the skills lab, the recruiting and training of tutors and the revisiting of procedure manuals.
It also suggests the training and appointment of clinical instructors, that the Ministry of Health Institute develop a Memorandum of Understanding with the Georgetown Public Hospital for designated wards to be used for teaching /learning purposes and that the wards be fully equipped with the necessary tools for learning.
The Association is also calling for the introduction of the management of the schools of nursing by a board of directors and that all matters pertaining to nursing must be managed by the competent nursing administrators in the various institutions.
Their lists of recommendations also include the reviewing of student policies and having smaller batches at enrolments twice per year.

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Poor nurses performance..Nurses Association questions whether Ministry is looking at quality or quantity?

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