THE area of nurse specialisation continues to grow in Fiji, says Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete.
“We are now beginning to look at maybe taking nurse practitioners into areas where there is a zone nurse,” Dr Waqainabete said in Parliament yesterday, reasoning this could ensure there was a mid-level practitioner in those areas.
“We are also looking at areas such as oncology, which now has its own nurse, hospital in the home which now has a nurse practitioner, and these are areas in which we want to bring our nursing fraternity.
“We agree that as one of the frontline ministries, sometimes there are challenges in the way that we present ourselves and in the way we present our care.
“Having said that, we are very critical of ourselves.
“We have a very robust auditing system, we take complaints very seriously, but having said that, I have witnessed the enthusiasm, passion and commitment to our people by our health staff.
“And I have been also humbled by the collective effort of the NGOs, civil society organisations, faith-based groups and individuals, who deliver services and manage programs to provide healthcare services to our people.”
