We get criticized not because of our fault: Nurses

Nurses have expressed concern regarding some news stories that were published on International Nurses Day.

Speaking to Miadhu News, some nurses said that they get criticized not because of their fault but because of the situation they have to work in. “ We don’t say we are perfect all the time. We are also humans hence mishaps might happen. But that is like just one percent of the times” said a nurse.

Nurses said that often the medical institutions do not have the capacity to provide services to a standard they advertise. Sometimes they do not have adequate facilities and not even enough nurses according to a nurse who spoke to Miadhu. “In addition, 45 percent of the nurses are foreigners. Since they cannot speak Dhivehi they have a hard time communicating with patients. That is why these things happen” said a nurse.

In addition, she said that there are different kinds of people and that should be accepted that some nurses might be short tempered or careless. She said that there will be things that can be done to solve it. “For example, why not get feedback from the patients? Why not give a form to the patients to give feedback? Why don’t all nurses have a name tag ? that way patients will be able to identify who gives good services and who don’t? These are all things that can be done” said the nurse.

The nurses said that the purpose of these research should not be to blame someone but to make things better.

Maldivian nurses are exemplary compared to nurses from many countries. Even now there are nurses from Maldives who work abroad. Even now a Maldivian nurse works at one of the top medical institutions in USA.

The nurses note that the Nurses and Midwifery association should provide more training opportunities for Maldivian nurses.