The first professor of Nursing Science at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Mildred John, has delivered the institution’s 67th inaugural lecture. She made recommendations on solving the challenges facing the profession.
The time was 3pm. Activities were at their peak. Then, a motorcade made its way to the University of Calabar (UNICAL) International Conference Centre.
In few minutes, the venue was filled to capacity. Welcome to the 67th inaugural lecture of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) delivered by Prof Mildred John, the first professor of Nursing Science in the school.
The lecture started with the procession of principal officers led by Prof Florence Obi, Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) Academics, who represented the Vice-Chancellor.
Other members of the procession included Deans of Faculties, Heads of Departments, and Directors of Colleges.
Declaring the ceremony open, Prof Obi lauded the lecturer for her feats in research, saying the has contributed to the development of the discipline with her academic investigation.
Introducing the inaugural lecturer, Dr Ekpoanwan Esienumo of the Nursing Department, described Prof John as an “academic giant” and “trailblazer”, adding that her contribution to the discipline was immeasurable.
In her lecture titled: Value-added nursing care: Best practice or wishful thinking? Prof John echoed the words of Florence Nightingale, who said: “Unless we are making progress in our nursing every year, every month, every week, we are going back. Every word ought to be distilled into actions, which bring results.”
She noted that the lecture was important at this time when nursing was at a crossroads, adding that the discipline was losing its core values. To revive nursing, the don said critical decisions must be made to achieve a paradigm shift to restore the healthcare system.
According to her, nursing has to rebuild its image and its practitioners must provide care that would meet the needs and expectations of patients with the aim of adding value to healthcare. Such values, Prof John said, would engender best practices in the sector.
She said: “The ability of a nurse to respond to people’s needs within a rapidly changing environment of healthcare depends on the way nursing is organised in the healthcare system. The way nursing practice is regulated and the quality of care must be assured, but this depends on the level of preparedness of practitioners.”
Enumerating nursing challenges, Prof John said the public image of nurses was far from being good. Nursing, she said, was not being practised in line with standards set by International Council of Nurses (ICN) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM).
Proffering solution, Prof John said value-added nursing practice was the way out, adding that there must be national actions by stakeholders to fish out quacks and implement the regulatory guidelines. She said the government must invest in up-skilling of practitioners and make those with first degree nursing to be in direct care of patients.
She advised that internship and thorough research must be encouraged to engender value-added practice.
Prof John defined value-added practice as one that must have care, compassion, competence, communication, courage, commitment and change in attitude. The values, she said, were in line with global standards.
The highpoint was the presentation of award to the lecturer by Prof Obi.
Head of Department of Nursing Science Dr Mary Mgbekem said Prof John’s recommendations would change the practice for good if implemented. She said: “Nurses must strive to use value- added approach when caring for patients to enable the profession survive its contemporary challenges.”
