Chua: Matrons must focus on teaching trainee nurses

NST: PUTRAJAYA: Matrons and nursing sisters must concentrate on their core business, which is to train nurses on probation during ward rounds, said Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek yesterday.
He said a study by the ministry last year showed that 80% of them were doing more administrative work and had neglected their main role of supervising and teaching trainee nurses.
“They are not doing their core business but side business now, which is probably easier than doing ward rounds,” he added.
“It is now compulsory for them to go on ward rounds. Their failure to do so results in failure to monitor and supervise new nurses, which will also affect the quality of our future nurses,” he said.
He said trainee nurses were inexperienced and should be taught the finer skills of nursing during their practical training in hospitals.
Dr Chua was speaking to reporters after witnessing a signing of agreement between the Health Ministry and Nilam Healthcare Education Centre Sdn Bhd to make use of facilities at hospitals and community polyclinics to teach and train students pursuing diploma courses at Nilam College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences.
Dr Chua said that starting this year, matrons and nursing sisters had been given the task to be mentors to trainee nurses and to assess their performance before they could register as qualified nurses with the Nursing Board.
“All the new nurses will be subjected to this new mentor system,” he said.
He added that the move was part of the Government’s plan to develop and upgrade human capital under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.