200 intern nurses to complete program
MORE than 200 intern nurses will complete their 16-month internship program soon.
Health and Medical Services Ministry permanent secretary Dr Jemesa Tudravu said the 206 nurses would complete the program in May.
Responding to Opposition MP Premila Kumar, who questioned the ministry’s efforts to register graduate nurses who she claimed had been waiting a long time to sit their registration exams, Dr Tudravu said the exams were not the responsibility of the ministry.
“Nursing practice in Fiji, as in other parts of the world is regulated, guided, and protected to ensure the delivery of safe nursing practice that protects the health of the population,” said Dr Tudravu.
“The Fiji Nursing Council is the legislated body that safeguards nursing practice in Fiji by setting nursing practice standards which all nursing graduates must attain and maintain throughout their career.
“Nursing graduates in Fiji undergo a registration examination set by the Fiji Nursing Council before they embark on the 16 months internship program at various health facilities around the country before becoming registered nurses in Fiji.
“More than 400 nursing interns are currently engaged in the internship training program and employed by the ministry.
“The first lot of 206 nurses will complete the program in May 2024.”
Dr Tudravu said the registration exam ensured the nurse graduates were competent in safe nursing practice standards irrespective of which nurse training institution they graduated from.
“The registration exams are not offered by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, however the ministry is always ready to take in graduate nurses who have passed the registration exams into the health workforce.”