UGONSA SENDS LETTER TO SEVEN STATES OVER NON-IMPLEMENTATION OF NURSING INTERNSHIP

Following the call by UGONSA for its members to indicate States where the nascent nursing internship training for the graduates of BNSc degree is yet to be implemented, the association has sent letters to seven States identified by its members. Letters were sent to both the Governors of the concerned States and their Commissioners of Health. The States include Imo, Delta, Enugu, Ogun, Kaduna, Abia, and Plateau State. Below is a sample of the letter sent to the States:

His Excellency,

Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong,

The Executive Governor of Plateau State,

Government House, Jos,

Plateau State, Nigeria.

Sir,

A PASSIONATE APPEAL TO CREATE INTERNSHIP POSITIONS FOR FRESH BNSc GRADUATES OF PLATEAU STATE ORIGIN IN THE STATE-OWNED HOSPITALS

We laud the ongoing effort of the Plateau State government to reposition the health system of the State for efficiency in service delivery. We also laud the great effort of the State Government at manpower build-up and development in the health system of the State.

2. However, we passionately appeal for the kind intervention of your good office to bridge the missing link in the nursing education of the graduates of Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc) degree of Plateau State origin, which is non-availability of internship position for them in Plateau State-owned hospitals; an unfortunate scenario that has hampered the completion of nursing education of the majority of the baccalaureate-prepared nursing students.

3. The release of the internship circular, Ref No. HCSF/EPO/EIR/CND/S.100/ST/97, on 8th September 2016 by the office of the head of the civil service of the federation (HCSF) made it mandatory that every graduate of BNSc degree must undergo a one-year internship training to be eligible for issuance of a full license by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). What this portends is that internship training is a sine qua non of their graduation and change of licensure status from “provisional to full” by the NMCN and thus anyone who was unable to find internship placement remains trapped in the transition gulf between graduation and licensure.

4. Since 2016, when internship training commenced in Nursing, no hospital owned by the Plateau State Government has ever included the post of nurse interns in their internship adverts whenever they advertized for internship placement. Thus, as the fresh university graduates of Plateau State origin from other core healthcare disciplines such as Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Med Lab, Optometry, Physiotherapy, etc, are given the opportunity for internship training in the State-owned hospitals, those of nursing are ostracized and left to wallow at the mercy of hospitals in other States when their own State has capable hospitals that can take care of their needs.

5. We, therefore, most passionately implore that you intervene to see that nurses, who can be described as the mother of the hospital (if the hospital is likened to a family) is given the opportunity to blend their theoretical know-how with comprehensive clinical skills by affording the fresh graduates of BNSc degree internship opportunity in Plateau State-owned hospitals to enable them get adequate training and skills to provide exceptional nursing care to the populace.

6. The lives of people have been entrusted onto the care of nurses; it is thus imperative that nurses are well educated and trained to carry out this task effectively and efficiently.

PRAYER

We most humbly and passionately request that you kindly use your good office to

1. see that the post of nurse intern is included in subsequent internship adverts of Plateau State-owned hospitals that offer internship training for fresh graduates of core healthcare disciplines.

2. give fresh graduates of BNSc degree of Plateau State origin, the opportunity to do internship in Plateau State-owned hospitals as done for the fresh graduates of other core healthcare disciplines.

3. make the Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Jos, and the Plateau State Hospital Management Board to extend the internship opportunity they have been availing the fresh graduates other core healthcare professions to the fresh graduate nurses.

Please find the attached circulars and implementation guide for the nursing internship from the NMCN for guidance on placement and postings during the nursing internship.

Kindly accept the assurances of our esteemed regards!

Signed

CHIEF (HON.) S.E.O. EGWUENU                                   NURSE G.I. NSHI

         National President                                                         National Secretary