Fiji Nurses Battle Stupidity

Sorry to be so negative but this article deserves a note. Had to add in my own comments too. It's not that nurses shouldn't smile or shouldn't care, but if this guy thinks that's going to solve all of his problems he's in for a rude awakening.

I can imagine him telling his constituents that he's Doing Something about the "problem with healthcare". -HK

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FIJI: Health CEO Challenges Nurses
Tuesday: August 8, 2006

(Fiji Govt PR) - Health Chief Executive Officer Dr Lepani Waqatakirewa yesterday (07/08) challenged nurses to emulate the 'smiling service' of policeman Kolinio Baivou.

Mr Baivou, who can be seen every morning controlling traffic at the Ratu Mara Road and Mead Road junction in Nabua, was featured in the Fiji Times issue of Saturday, August 5. (ed: so nursing is about as easy as controlling traffic?)

With a photocopy of the smiling Mr Baivou in hand, Dr Waqatakirewa said that nurses should take up the challenge and learn to be more friendly while they serve people.

"You have to smile, even though you might not have a syringe to use. You can go out and greet those waiting to be served and talk to them," Dr Waqatakirewa said. (ed: obviously, you've got nothing better to do than entertain people who are waiting to see the doctor...)

Dr Waqatakirewa told the nurses that if they practiced smiling and friendly service then they would be able to win the confidence of the public. (ed: I bet with better hours, better pay, and a teeny bit of respect they wouldn't have to "practice smiling")

Senior nurses from the country's 19 sub-divisions are attending a Capacity Building and Supervision Strengthening Workshop at the Southern Cross Hotel in Suva.

Facilitated by the Public Health Division of the Ministry of Health, the workshop is aimed at helping nurses understand the importance of their daily work better in relation to the achievement of the Ministry's Strategic Plan and the international Millennium Development Goals.

Dr Waqatakirewa said lately nurses have been in the media because of poor attitude shown while serving patients.

He said this negative portrayal of nurses could be changed if the nurses themselves decide to show more positive attitude while working. (ed: did I mention better hours and better pay?)

Director Nursing and Health System Standards, Senior Sister Rigieta Nadakuitavuki also challenged senior nurses to review their supervision abilities and see if they have been effective.

"œThe next two days will present you with a lot of resources that you can use to help you better your supervision skills. This will give you the time to see for yourself whether you have been able to stay to the course or if you have not achieved your plans then that tells you that something is wrong," Mrs Nadakuitavuki said.

She also told nurses that human skills are very important in their field of work.

"We have to be able to show our human skills. The smiles, the caring. We have to do this in our field of work so that our patients feel good to be served by us," she said.

Director Public Health Dr Timaima Tuiketei said that the workshop would help the selected nurses become better nurses with the knowledge they would take back with them.

She said that the workshop was set-up so that nurses can be briefed on the new Ministry of Health plans in line with the new Development Plan that the multi-party cabinet is working on for 2007-2011. (ed: by god, get on board with the development plan - nevermind patient care, we're talking Big Picture here.)

"And more importantly we are trying to help nurses understand the linkage between their daily work, the ministry's strategic plan and the Millennium Development Goals, as we are signatories to a number of international conventions on health," Dr Tuiketei said.(ed: jeez, I thought daily work was all about helping the patient, not the Ministry...I guess I need more help to understand just how important that is!)