BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

A WORKSHOP to enhance the leadership and communication skills of nurses in the Sultanate began yesterday at the Ministry of Health building.

The two-day leadership workshop entitled “Strengthening Nursing Leadership” was conducted by the President of the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation (CNMF).

Dame Ramziah Ahmad, also a board member of the Commonwealth Nurses Federation Asia Region, delivered a talk yesterday that focused on characteristics of leadership and the importance of nursing profession in line with the commonwealth module courses.

During the seminar, the international speaker reminded participants of their responsibility to lead, noting the lack of “grooming” or mentorship by senior nurses to the juniors is one of the several key issues that nurses face today.

The President of CNMF said senior medical officers who do not groom or lead their subordinates “have the potential to impact nursing significantly as we move into the future”.

“Groom the young ones, select the potential nurses who can one day take over your position. Train these juniors thoroughly five to six years before you retire because that is what a leader must do for the betterment of this field,” she said.

Present as the guest of honour yesterday was the president of the National Nursing Association of Brunei (PENJURU), Datin Paduka Hjh Suraya Noraidah Abdullah.

In her welcoming remarks, Datin Paduka Hjh Suraya urged nurses and midwives to improve their technical competence and interpersonal relationship to facilitate quality healthcare.

She stressed the importance of nurses and midwives to meet professional standard and client satisfaction, noting that there is currently a growing number of nurses and midwives in the Sultanate.

“Currently, 2271 nurses and midwives are working, taking up to 36 per cent of the manpower at the Ministry of Health (MoH), so with this (number) of staff, I urge all to carry out your duties with excellence and care,” said the president.

The seminar, designed to build on the existing leadership of participants, will end today, attended by more than 100 health officials from Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) hospital, Jerudong Park Medical Centre (JPMC) and medical practitioners from the Renal Department.

The Brunei Times