By Steve Oko

The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), has charged nurses to combine clinical competence with compassion, stressing that empathy remains the cornerstone of quality patient care.

NMCN Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Alhasan Ndagi gave the charge at the induction ceremony of 38 nursing science graduates of Gregory University Uturu (GUU).

The NMCN boss who was represented by Mr Godwin Ukpong, reminded the inductees that “nursing is a service-driven profession requiring empathy, attentiveness, and kindness.”

He said the Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc) degree equips graduates with the capacity to make accurate diagnoses, design and implement care plans, and evaluate patient outcomes holistically.

The induction, he noted, marks their transition into certified professionals, with their names to be entered into the NMCN register as Registered Nurses (RN) following their oath-taking.

The inductees were urged to develop health promotion strategies, evaluate care outcomes, and work both independently and collaboratively within the healthcare system.

Head of Department of Nursing Science, Associate Professor Chinyere Regina Nwufo, highlighted the uniqueness of nursing education in Nigeria, noting that graduates often earn multiple certifications, including Registered Nurse (RN), Registered Midwife (RM), Registered Public Health Nurse (RPHN), alongside the BNSc degree.

She described the programme as rigorous, combining academic work with intensive clinical supervision and multiple professional examinations.

In a remark, Pro-Chancellor, Professor Augustine Uwakwe, urged the graduates to be worthy ambassadors of the institution.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Cele Njoku, in her address, stressed the need for compassion, integrity, and humility, noting that the healthcare sector demands professionals who can connect deeply with patients.

Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor Felix Erondu, charged the graduates to uphold the institution’s standards, warning that their conduct would define the programme’s reputation.

In a guest lecture, Dr Nneka Juliet Nnamdi of Abia State University Uturu , emphasised critical thinking and soft skills as essential tools for modern nursing practice, urging continuous self-improvement and patient-centred care.

She also called on healthcare institutions to prioritise communication and interpersonal skills training.

The inductees were encouraged to pursue higher education and explore global opportunities in the profession.

They were also encouraged to undergo a one-year internship in a health facility, followed by the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programmem.

In her valedictory speech, the best graduating student, Onyinyechukwu Mbadugha, expressed gratitude to the university, declaring their readiness to take on professional responsibilities.