Ghana's health care quality at risk over delay in posting nurses - Rev. Dr. Ransford Kwabena Awuku-Gyampoh

Ghana's nursing profession has been confronted with many challenges in recent times; the key among them is the issue of nursing brain drain as well as the huge number of unemployed graduate nurses.

The trend of unemployed graduate nurses in the country has increased, contributing to Ghana's high graduate unemployment rate, hence the call for immediate government intervention to address the issue.

Addressing the gathering during the graduation and matriculation ceremony of Rans Elliot School of Nursing in Koforidua, the Chief Executive Officer of the school, Rev. Dr. Ransford Kwabena Awuku-Gyampoh, stated that the continuous delay in posting nurses after passing their licensure exams will further deteriorate their skill set on the job.

According to Rev. Dr. Ransford Kwabena Awuku-Gyampoh, the nursing profession

is purely a science, and science requires continuous experimentation and practice; hence, there may be changes to the skills and knowledge acquired if one waits for a long period of time without an opportunity to practice on the job, and this may pose a serious threat to Ghana's health care in the future.

"Because science is knowledge acquired through a period of experiments, testing of hypotheses, and evaluation in order to arrive at proven facts, long periods of waiting time for nurses may lead to extinct knowledge and skills as there may be changes in terms of new knowledge and findings coming into the system,” he said.

Rev. Dr. Ransford Kwabena Awuku-Gyampoh noted that "the long waiting period

experienced by graduate nurses after passing their licensure exams before they are posted by the government could lead to the loss of professional skills acquired. Research indicates that delays in posting newly licensed nurses significantly impact both the nursing profession and the nation as a whole."

"Extended periods of inactivity by the nurse can lead to the deterioration of practical skills acquired during the training. Imagine a graduate nurse staying at home for a period of four years just waiting to be posted, and you see such a person struggling to survive."

"Graduates who remain home for a long period of time without being posted may

also face serious financial challenges leading to frustrations and potential loss of interest in the profession," he added.

"Is it a sin to become a nurse? Is it taboo to be trained and want to serve one’s nation? What exactly could be the problem? What is in that queue that cannot be removed, hence causing long periods of delay in postings? It is my prayer that we will not lose our acquired skills," he quizzed.

The Rans-Elliot School of Nursing is affiliated with the University of Cape Coast and is fully accredited by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana (NMC) to run diploma in nursing programs.

Reflecting on the theme "Nursing Education: Our Past, Present and Future," the

principal of Rans-Elliot School of Nursing, Doreen Osae-Ayensu, highlighted

that the school is, for the first time since it received accreditation, graduating 11 students and matriculating 15 students for the next academic year.

Doreen Osae-Ayensu also noted the impact of Private Nursing Institutions in

Ghana, reiterating that private colleges have expanded access to nursing education, particularly for students who may not have gained admission to public institutions.