Specialized Nurse Retention in PNG Important
Papua New Guinea Health Department continues to spend money to increase the number of specialized nurses in the country but it is not able to retain them for long.
This, according to the President of National Nurses Association Frederick Kebai, is due to many moving on for better paid jobs in private health facilities.
Specialized nurses refers to those who have attained post-basic certificates after obtaining a general certificate in nursing.
Post basic certificates being sought are mostly in the area of pediatrics, mental health, midwifery and others.
The association president says with the changes in nursing curriculum in the country, a few have gone on further to get bachelor degrees in clinical nursing from the University of Papua New Guinea.
Kebai says such specialized nurses are eligible to a specialized domestic market allowance.
While most public health facilities do pay this allowance, there are a few that still fail to do so which Kebai says results in many moving on and ultimately affecting public health service delivery.
“We would like to retain them within the public sector to apply their specialist knowledge to look after the bulk of our population,” said Kebai.
The association president says from the total number of 4000 nurses who are contributors to the association, less than five per cent have attained additional qualifications to be categorized as specialized nurses.
While he says many are pursuing further studies to up skill their qualifications, the need to retain the current five per cent is of importance.
FM100/PNG Today
NExt :
This, according to the President of National Nurses Association Frederick Kebai, is due to many moving on for better paid jobs in private health facilities.
Specialized nurses refers to those who have attained post-basic certificates after obtaining a general certificate in nursing.Post basic certificates being sought are mostly in the area of pediatrics, mental health, midwifery and others.
The association president says with the changes in nursing curriculum in the country, a few have gone on further to get bachelor degrees in clinical nursing from the University of Papua New Guinea.
Kebai says such specialized nurses are eligible to a specialized domestic market allowance.
While most public health facilities do pay this allowance, there are a few that still fail to do so which Kebai says results in many moving on and ultimately affecting public health service delivery.
“We would like to retain them within the public sector to apply their specialist knowledge to look after the bulk of our population,” said Kebai.
The association president says from the total number of 4000 nurses who are contributors to the association, less than five per cent have attained additional qualifications to be categorized as specialized nurses.
While he says many are pursuing further studies to up skill their qualifications, the need to retain the current five per cent is of importance.
FM100/PNG Today
NExt :
Post a Comment