‘Nursing profession tarnished by money seekers’

Ohangwena health director John Hango says the nursing profession has deteriorated over the years as money seekers tarnish its image.

Hango made these remarks during the Ohangwena award and prize giving ceremony for well-performing hospitals and nursing services in the region’s health facilities at Oshikango yesterday.

Hango lashed out at nurses who join the profession for the sake of employment, but not to help the sick as expected.

“Nursing is no longer a calling, there is no passion. Perhaps what needs to be worked on with the nurses, especially in the public sector, is the attitude, and supervision of nurses needs to be intensified.

“Negative attitude is the worst disease that needs to be dug out of the nursing profession. If we polish our nursing staff’s attitude to become positive in what they do, I anticipate that we will improve patient care by approximately 80%.

These are the same nurses that go out and get employed in the private sector and when they are there, they become angels. Let us introspect and bring change, we want to see excellent patient care services,” Hango said.

Hango added that the nursing profession is further challenged by staff opting for greener pastures.

“I can confidently say that the training standard of the nursing profession in Namibia is so high that our nurses are even being poached by European and American countries.”

Nurses Union of Namibia secretary general Junias Shilunga applauded the Ohangwena health directorate for initiating the awards ceremony which goes a long way to encourage and motivate nurses.

“It is really encouraging and it will boost the moral of our nursing staff who are working tirelessly. The government should be encouraged to come up with ways of boosting the moral of nurses, such as in-service training. This can remind nurses of their core duties and operations,” said Shilunga.

He argued that it was not fair for nurses to be accused of not performing well, as public hospital facilities receive an influx of patients on a daily basis.

“With the dilapidation of infrastructure, a lack of motivation can contribute to the frustrations of the nurses. The government should make it compulsory to motivate staff.”

Shilunga said Hango was merely assuming that most nurses join the profession for the sake of employment and money.

“That is just an assumption from the director. Where and when did he do his research? He must give us facts on his research to come to that conclusion. We cannot really accuse a profession to say nurses are working without any passion while we know that our nurses are always on the ground trying to help, even when there is no motivation. I really don’t understand why the director has to make such a statement without factual findings,” he added.