Mr Felix Kwame Nyante, Registrar, Nursing and Midwifery Council, has challenged graduates of the Peri-Operative and Critical Nursing School, Korle-Bu to help change the face of nursing in the country.

He said because of the negative attitude of some nurses, the public mostly blame death occurrences and other inhumane treatment at the various hospitals on nurses, leading to the disrespect for the profession.

“I urge and challenge you that go out there and become very good ambassadors. If you can partner us, together we can have a multiple effect,” he said.

Mr Nyante made the remark on Thursday when the school, held its eighth graduation, grand awards and passing out ceremony for 70 students.

Out of the number, 32 graduated from Peri-Operative with the remaining 38 graduating from Critical Nursing after 15- month training.

Leading the graduates, made up of 54 women and 16 men, to swear the Oath (Nurses pledge), Mr Nyante asked them to be strong advocate of the profession.

The oath binds each nurse to abide by all rules and regulations, and also be of good behaviour while pursuing their careers in order to promote a positive image for the nursing field.

Mr Kwaku Asante-Krobea, Principal of the school observed that the institution is at the forefront of Post Basic Nursing education in the country.

He said the school which is committed to the training of specialists had since its inception trained more than 808 nurses from the 10 regions.

Specialists from the school would be responsible for the individual operating room nursing care and in units where there are patients undergoing surgical treatment, intensive care and or examination.

“Majority of the students come from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Volta River Authority Hospital, 37 Military Hospital as well as Nigeria and Sierra Leone,” he said.

Mr Asante-Krobea cited inadequate staff, lack of permanent campus, inadequate adequate accommodation for students and staff as some of the challenges facing the school.

Going forward, the Principal said there would be advanced collaboration with foreign partners to set up a consortium for health skill training in Ghana and extend the partnership to other institutions that share their unique interest, values and vision.

“We have Kick-started the arrangement on the advancement of the academic status from post diploma to degree and graduate degrees,” he said.

He said the school would exploit opportunities for growth through partnership building and strengthening of weaknesses by increasing the internally-generated fund capital through admission of more fee-paying students and applying funds for the purchase of course-relevant textbooks to equip their library.

He advised the fresh nurses to live up to expectation “Being the only resource Peri-Operative and Critical Nurses don’t let us down,” he advised.

Professor Ahmed Zakaria, Chief Executive Officer, National Ambulance Service, assured management of the school of the Ministry of Health’s support to enhance academic work.

He also admonished the graduates to see themselves as life savers saying: “Go out there chasing perfection, if you don’t, it should be excellence and that should be your cardinal principle,” he advised.

Mr David Awini, General Prefect of the group 17 urged colleagues to go out and work very hard to save the citizenry.

“It is incumbent on you and I to go out there and do what is expected of us,” Mr Awini said.

Academic and general awards were given to deserving students with Mrs Rosemond Agyeiwaa, a Critical Care Nursing graduate receiving the overall best student award.