Seychelles Nurses and Midwives Council welcomes new registered nurses and midwives |07 January 2022
The newly registered nurses and midwives in a souvenir photograph (Photo: contributed)
Twenty-one nurses have registered with the Seychelles Nurses and Midwives Council after having successfully completed their three-year diploma course.
The past students from the National Institute of Health and Social Studies (NIHSS) received their registration document in a ceremony held recently at the Sheikh Khalifa diagnostic centre at the Seychelles Hospital.
The ceremony was to welcome the novices formally in the nursing and midwifery professions.
Present were the chairperson of the Council, Eveline Moumou; the Registrar of the Seychelles Nurses and Midwives Council, Winifred Agricole; chief nursing officer, Gylian Mein; principal nursing officers; nurse managers; council members.
Also in the ceremony was a group of nurses, among whom included a male nurse, who were certified as qualified midwives. They had been following a specialised programme in the domain.
In their pledges, the nurses vowed to maintain by all means in their power, the honour and noble tradition of the nursing profession.
In her opening remarks, the chairperson of the council, Eveline Moumou, called on the nurses to take up the opportunities available to develop their career.
She also urged them to be a catalyst in the health environment to positively improve the image of nursing and the midwife profession.
On her part, newly registered nurse Hannah Lepathy, who presented the vote of thanks, said that although the three-year journey was a long walk of hardship, struggles and countless battle against discouragements, fear and personal growth, they are proud of their achievements and they are strong and ready to face the challenges.
Registration is a legal requirement and entails that the nurses and midwives have met the required standard and are competent to deliver nursing and midwifery services at the set standard required by the Nurses and Midwives Council, which regulates their practice. It means that they are accountable and responsible for the care being delivered to the consumers who are the patients and clients. They are responsible to keep abreast of developments in health and nursing ensuring that their practice is relevant. They are also required to uphold the professional image at all times. This is done through professional development through continuous learning.
Both the Nursing and Midwifery courses were held locally at NIHSS. The training is only one requirement for registration. The Council, which is the registering body, has to be satisfied with not only the training requirement, but that the prospective nurse is able to practice safely and competently.
The Nurses and Midwives Council is a professional regulatory body which functions under the umbrella of the Nurses and Midwives Act, 1985. It is an autonomous body and is composed of 13 board members.
Patrick Joubert