The PNG Nurses Association is calling on Health Authorities to consider utilising the ageing workforce for the benefit of newly graduating nurses.
The Association claimed that young nurses lack experience, and the department should focus on using experienced nurses to impart their knowledge and skills to the younger workforce, before retirement.
PNG Nurses Association President, Eimi Kaptigau, said young nurses coming out of colleges today, lack the necessary experience and skills to handle tough situations.
she’said before the older nurses retired, the department should focus on a training program, where the new ones coming out of nursing colleges would have to work side by side with them to gain experience.
she’said the Nursing Association fears that if this is not done, the future of nursing in PNG will not look promising.
she’said this issue will be discussed during the thirteenth Medical Research symposium to be held in Kimbe this November.
The Association’s Vice President, Carman Yakopa, said the government has increased the retirement age for public servants to 65 years, which he suggests should be used to impart skills to the younger nurses.
Meanwhile, the Association is appealing to current grade twelve students and those upgrading their academic qualifications, to consider nursing as a career option.
