By Chioma Obinna
Nigerian nurses have been urged to rededicate themselves to the ethics of the profession even as the Lagos State School of Midwifery recorded  96 per cent success in the 2009 Nursing and Midwifery Examinations.

Giving the charge at the 34th joint graduation of the Schools of Nursing, Midwifery & Public Health Nursing in Lagos,  State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris said trust should be the watch word of any nurse who hopes  to earn the confidence of patients. “A  confirmed nurse should be able to convince her patients beyond reasonable doubt to trust her. This is because it is only when your patients trust you that they can rely on you.”

Lamenting the exodus of nurses from Nigeria, Idris who was represented by the Medical Director of Lagos Island Maternity, Dr. Olumuyiwa Solanke, said  currently, nurses are better paid, particularly  in Lagos State.

Director, Nursing Services, Mrs. Jokotade Adebusola Agunbiade said all over the world, nurses form the bulk of personnel in the health sector, hence the need for training in order to improve, enhance and promote the health status of the people.

She recalled that nursing profession requires total commitment to needs and comfort of the patient and charged the graduands to show all the qualities and ethics of an ideal nurse. “I will like to remind you that nursing profession has moved forward, hence the need for nurses to enhance their educational status.”

She regretted the embargo on admission in the Schools of Nursing and Midwifery but said expansion was in progress  within the premises of Alimosho General Hospital, Igando.

Presenting the graduands, Head of Department, School of Midwifery, Mrs. Nnenna Okorie, stressed that graduation of the midwives would help in the country’s quest to reduce maternal mortality, as the usually have everyday contacts with the women and their babies.

She disclosed that the School was graduating 93 midwives, of the 45 presented for council examination, 43  passed and the school scored 96 per cent while 9 per cent of the students had credit in at least one or two papers.