The University of Calabar, has inducted 99 new nurses into the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), the nurses took oath of allegiance on yesterday at the institution’s Conference Centre in Calabar.
Speaking during the ceremony, Prof. Florence Obi, Vice Chancellor of the university, urged the graduands to be of good behaviour and care when administering treatment on their patients.
Obi, represented by Prof. Michael Okom, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, stressed that such care would determine their professional advancement in the nursing profession.
She charged the new nurses to always embrace the virtues of selflessness, humility and compassion in the course of discharging their duties.
While congratulating them for the great feat, the vice chancellor described the nursing profession as one with a ‘rich history and tradition.
She cautioned the graduands against indulging in unethical practices that might put their professional advancement in jeopardy.
“Your attitude and disposition toward the health needs of your patients would greatly determine your professional advancement.
“As graduate nurses, you must be selfless, humble and compassionate when discharging your duties. You must adhere to the tenets of your profession.
“Your attitude is also capable of projecting or destroying the reputation of your alma mata, so you must also exhibit a good attitude toward your patients,” she said.
She expressed appreciation to the lecturers in the faculty for imparting knowledge on the graduands, saying that their contributions would not be forgotten in a hurry.
Provost of the College of Medical Sciences, Prof. Victor Ansa, in his remarks, said the college remains the flagship of the institution. He tasked the graduands to bring succour to patients by offering efficient and effective health care.
Ansa who encouraged the graduate nurses to give back to the society, further reminded them of the need to practise their profession with the highest degree of honesty, diligence and transparency.
The Dean, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Prof. Idongesit Akpabio, said: “as certified nurses, when you move out of your alma mata following your graduation, you should always look back and remember where you were molded’’.
Akpabio who is also the Chairman, Committee of Deans, urged the graduands to always lift the name of their alma mata high by desisting from acts capable of tarnishing the image of the university.
She announced that the faculty had not only begun the Master’s Degree programme, but had also added the Doctorate Degree programme in many specialty areas of nursing.
Alhaji Umar Abubakar, the Secretary-General/Registrar of NMCN, who spoke shortly after administering oath on the graduands, said the inductees were the future of the nursing profession.
Abubakar, represented by the Director, Nursing/Head of Education Department of NMCN, Dr Margaret Eze, said the graduates had attained a high standard of education with clinical skills that would enable them render safe and effective health care.
The secretary-general said as certified nurses, they must be able to perform nursing skills in a variety of health care settings.
He urged them to function collaboratively with other health care professionals in any health care setting.
Abubakar, who implored the graduands to respect the ethics of the profession, also admonished them to be credible ambassadors.
He advised them to adhere to the code of ethics of the nursing profession and to display humility and honesty in the course of their practice at all times.
The best graduating student, Ms Esther Ekong-Evans, in her valedictory speech, described the nursing department as an ‘ultimate family’.
She thanked lecturers, parents and guardians for helping them achieve their academic dreams.