Mrs. Innocentia Gborgblorvor, Volta Regional Chairman of the Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA), has expressed worry about declining standards of nursing and its dent on the profession.

“Standards of nursing care have kept falling, denting the image of the profession, and this remains a great worry to the Association,” she said. Mrs. Gborgblorvor was addressing this year’s Volta Regional Nurses Day celebrations at Keta.

Nurses throughout the world celebrate the Day every year in honour of Florence Nightingale, mother of modern nursing who was born on that day. Held on the theme; “Nurses and Midwives – a force for change, a vital health resource”, the day is to honour the nurse and reflect on both the past and the future.

Mrs. Gborgblorvor said despite the enviable role the nurse plays in health care delivery, indiscipline, rudeness and poor work attitude among the rank and file has raised eyebrows and evoked criticisms.

”We are abusing the vulnerability and rights of our clients, and the public is losing confidence in us,” she said. Mrs. Gborgblorvor blamed the situation on poor upbringing, people entering the profession as their only option and the administrative structures which do not give nursing authorities full control over their people.

“The unacceptable attitudes are due to a whole system failure, and I ask all to help bring reform to redeem the image in the general interest,” she noted. She, nonetheless, saluted nurses for their sacrifices over the years, despite the challenges of their profession, saying they will remain indispensable particularly as the country strives to meet the 2015 Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target.

She appealed for logistical support, including vehicles, to ease their work, and also asked for national recognition and support for the day. Ms. Helen Ntoso, Volta Regional Minister, in a message, reiterated the enviable role the nurse occupies, and said nursing standards, conducts and etiquette must be continuously promoted in the general interest.

“A health workforce consciously providing patient centered care to meet the population health care needs is essential to high quality health care delivery”, she said.

Ms Ntonso assured nurses that government will ensure that health care delivery remained excellent. Many organizations, including the Ghana National Association of Teachers, and traditional rulers, sent solidarity messages.