Ghana’s nursing profession has faced numerous challenges in recent times, with key issues being the brain drain of nurses and the high number of unemployed graduate nurses. The increasing trend of unemployed graduate nurses has exacerbated Ghana’s overall graduate unemployment rate, prompting calls for immediate government intervention to address the issue.
During a graduation and matriculation ceremony at the Rans-Elliot School of Nursing in Koforidua, the Chief Executive Officer of the school, Rev. Dr. Ransford Kwabena Awuku-Gyampoh, expressed concern over the continuous delay in posting nurses after they pass their licensure exams. He warned that these delays could further deteriorate their skill sets, ultimately posing a serious threat to the quality of healthcare in Ghana.
Rev. Dr. Awuku-Gyampoh emphasized that the nursing profession is inherently scientific, requiring continuous experimentation and practice. He cautioned that the skills and knowledge acquired during training could diminish if graduates wait for extended periods without opportunities to practice, potentially compromising their ability to deliver quality care in the future.
“Because science is knowledge acquired through a period of experiments, testing of hypotheses, and evaluation to arrive at proven facts, long waiting periods for nurses may lead to the loss of knowledge and skills, as new findings and practices emerge,” he explained.
Rev. Dr. Awuku-Gyampoh also 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 a loss of professional skills. “Research indicates that delays in posting newly licensed nurses significantly impact both the nursing profession and the nation as a whole,” he said.
He further elaborated that extended periods of inactivity can lead to the deterioration of practical skills acquired during training. “Imagine a graduate nurse staying at home for four years, just waiting to be posted. Such a person could struggle to survive,” he remarked.
Graduates who remain unemployed for long periods may also face serious financial challenges, leading to frustration and a potential loss of interest in the profession. “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 causing these long delays in postings? It is my prayer that we will not lose our acquired skills,” Rev. Dr. Awuku-Gyampoh lamented.
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 offer diploma programs in nursing.
Reflecting on the theme “Nursing Education: Our Past, Present, and Future,” the Principal of Rans-Elliot School of Nursing, Mad. Doreen Osae-Ayensu, highlighted that the school is, for the first time since receiving accreditation, graduating 11 students and matriculating 15 students for the next academic year.
Mad. Doreen Osae-Ayensu also acknowledged 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.
