New graduate nurses posting by end of February

Hon. Minister for Health with nurse at Togaimalo Nursing station late last year.

The Ministry of Health & Medical Services is reminding all graduate nurses that the nursing employment process will be completed by the end of February 2016.

The Hon. Minister for Health & Medical Services Mr Jone Usamate said “We have been receiving queries from graduate nurses regarding their postings. We are looking at the end of February to finalize this”.

“All newly graduated nurses must serve as an intern at one of the three divisional hospitals, being CWM, Lautoka or Labasa hospital. Upon completion of their internships, the nurses will then be posted at various health facilities around the country”.

The newly graduated nurses are legally obliged (Nursing Decree 2011) to pass the Fiji Nursing Council (FNC) Registration Exam to legitimize their practice in the country. This practice is used throughout the nursing fraternity worldwide under the International Council of Nurses (ICN).

Mr Usamate added that the marking of the FNC Registration Examination is complete. The Nursing Professional Standard Committee has submitted the results to the Registrar and they will be officially released by the end of next week.

Meanwhile, to improve the nurse patient ration, this year will also see the intake of 200 new graduate nurses as the Health Ministry remains committed to improving health service delivery across the country.