THE Fiji Nursing Association is on target to run as an independent body by 2013.
The comment was made yesterday by the director of Nursing Services, Silina Ledua, at the association's annual general meeting at Suva's Studio 6.
"By 2013 we want to take the Fiji Nursing Council out of the Ministry of Health," Mrs Ledua said to more than 2000 nurses who attended the meeting.
She said the association was now working on legislation and registration under the Nurses Decree.
Mrs Ledua also urged the nurses to acquire licences by the same year.
She said the association would push for a better positioned representative of their issues in the Fiji Nursing Council.
"No nursing president has ever been part of the Fiji Nursing Council, why is the mechanism not benefiting the nurses themselves," she said.
Mrs Ledua said issues raised were only to promote the safeguard of the nursing practice and care.
FNA general secretary Salanieta Matiavi said the AGM also included academic speakers from nursing institutions and highlighted issues that would be subjected to discussions during the forum later in the afternoon.
The theme of the one-day annual meeting was "Closing the Gap: From Evidence to Action" which Mrs Matiavi said would include actions the association would take in addressing their concerns.