NURSES AND MIDWIVES COUNCIL OF GHANA 2008 PROGRAMME OF WORK

1. NURSES AND MIDWIVES COUNCIL OF GHANA2008 PROGRAMME OF WORK By Veronica Darko (Ms.) Registrar/Chief Executive Officer

2. MANDATE • The Nurses and Midwives Council of Ghana is mandated by NRCD 117 and LI 683 to regulate nursing and midwifery training, education and practice. • The Council ensure professional conduct and efficiency of

3. KEY ISSUES • Policy direction of MOH toward increased intake • Number of nursing and midwifery training institutions • Number of students

4. KEY ISSUES CONT’D • A total of 17 new institutions have been given professional accreditation since 2006 and 3 universities this year • Council professional staff strength has dwindled from 20 to 6 over the last five years • Work at the Council has become more challenging

5. KEY ISSUES CONT’D • Introduction of the new health sector salary since January 2006 • Morale of staff of the Council have remained low because they were not captured on the structure.

6. KEY ISSUES CONT’D • Ineffective co operation and collaboration by authorities of some hospitals and clinics throughout the country to regulate standards of nursing and midwifery practice. • Increased unprofessionalism due to cover up and protection by some managers • Most cases of professional misconduct are not reported to the Council.

7. KEY ISSUES CONT’D • Inadequate Transportation for regular support supervisory trips to ensure compliance to professional standards. • Urgent relocation of the Council due to the high cost of maintenance of equipment resulting from the salinity of the sea breeze.

8. POLICY THRUST • To regulate nursing and midwifery training, education and practice and in particular, the maintenance and promotion of standards of professional conduct and efficiency.

9. PRIORITY ACTIVITIES • Increase the number of professional staff to increase efficiency and output • Renewal of accreditation of existing Nursing and midwifery training schools and hospitals. • Give Professional accreditation prospective nursing and midwifery training schools and facilities. • Conduct licensing examinations for all student nurses and midwives.

10. PRIORITY ACTIVITIES CONT’D • License all qualified nurses and midwives to practice. • Update the knowledge of nursing and midwifery educators and practitioners on current trends in the profession. • Conduct support supervisory visits with a view to enforcing standards of professional practice at all health institutions and facilities throughout the country.

11. PRIORITY ACTIVITIES-CONT’D • Prepare curricula for new post basic nursing programmes like Paediatrics, Oncology, Gerontology, Community Psychiatry, Accident and Emergency. • Continue to decentralize activities of the Council by establishing two more zonal offices in Ashanti and Western Regions. • Strengthen the collaboration with GHS, the Teaching Hospitals and other stakeholders.

12. PRIORITY ACTIVITIES CONT’D • Conduct operational research on topical nursing issues e.g. Attitude of nurses.

13. EXPECTED RESULTS • 80% of practicing nurses and midwives issued with valid Professional Identification Number. 2. Supervision strengthened by visiting at least thirty (30) of the 64 training schools and their training sites once in the year. 3. Licensing examinations conducted and results released within three months. 4. 20% of existing (old) training institutions and health facilities reaccredited.

14. COLLABORATORS • Ghana Health Service (GHS), • Teaching Hospitals, National Accreditation Board (NAB) • All Nursing and Midwifery Training Institutions , International Nursing and Midwifery Regulatory bodies and associations • Health Partners (WHO, USAID, CHPS-TA, QHP, DANIDA, GSCP) • Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) • Ministry of Justice and Attorney General’s Department • The Universities.