LASG enjoins nurses to embrace research, digital innovations

 

The Special Adviser on Health to Lagos State Governor, Dr Olukemi Ogunyemi, has enjoined nurses to embrace research and digital innovations to improve their healthcare delivery services and be relevant in the profession.

Ogunyemi, gave the advice at the Maiden Scientific Conference of the College of Nursing Sciences, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in collaboration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria on Wednesday in Lagos.

The conference has the theme: “Advancement in Nursing Education & Clinical Practice: Integrating Research, ICT & Resuscitation for Optimal Patient Outcomes”.

Ogunyemi, a keynote speaker at the event, said nurses need to continuously be educated, learn new skills and be abreast with new technologies and developments in the profession for better delivery of their services.

She emphasised the need for interprofessional collaboration and continuous training of the nurses, encouraging the nurses to embrace telemedicine approach to be able to excel as the profession evolves.

According to her, research not only informs evident-based practices, but also encourages inter-disciplinary collaborations, which is key to advancement of the nursing profession.

“Nursing is the backbone of the healthcare services.

“As a profession, we must embrace research, digital innovations – ICT, telemedicine and be up-to-date with new technologies in the health system.

“We need to come together as a team in education, keep learning new skills and consistently develop ourselves. Avoid consistency and do research to change our ways of doing things for better.

” Let’s unite to reshape the future of nursing profession,” Ogunyemi said.

He also represented Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State at the event.

On his part, the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Dr Wasiu Adeyemo, urged the college to intensify efforts to sustain the programme, assuring commitment of the hospital to giving them all the needed support.

Adeyemo said that hospital management in due course would be giving research grants to the college to encourage research findings.

According to him, admission into the college would strictly adhere to the criteria provided by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), as no individual below 16 years of age would be admitted into the college going forward.

The Chairman of the occasion, Dr Oluwatosin Olatujoye, urged the nurses to always render their services with much empathy, commitment, passion and honesty.

Represented by Mr Ayobami Olukeye, the Executive Director, Zylus Homes and Properties, Olatujoye said that the nursing profession was actually a ‘calling’ which required a lot of empathy and the zeal to work from the nurse.

Earlier, the Head, College of Nursing Sciences, LUTH, Dr Olubukola Olawuyi, said the essence of the conference was to improve the nursing practice through research, innovations and technological developments.

According to her, the health system is evolving as new technologies are coming up, hence, the need for the nursing profession to be abreast with the new developments in order to advance.

Olawuyi, who identified ‘brain drain’ as a major challenge confronting the nursing profession, urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to improve the working conditions for the nurses to retain them in the country and even encourage those practicing abroad to come home.

“We found out that knowledge is key; knowledge is power.

“Our profession is built on research, so when we do something, we want to know the scientific rationale behind doing it and that why everybody must keep abreast of the technology that is in place.

“This programme offers over nine scientific presentations, which will prompt us to engage in thoughts-provoking discussions, explore cutting-edge research and showcase innovative solutions,” she said.