No fewer than 92 newly qualified registered nurses of the faculty of Nursing Sciences, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), have been inducted by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).

 

They were inducted yesterday during the 11th induction ceremony of the Faculty of Nursing Science of the University held at ABUAD campus.

 

The Registrar of NMCN, Alhaji Ndagi Alhassan, while administering the oath, charged the inductees to uphold the ethical standards of the profession and be committed to providing quality health care.

 

He commended the founder and chancellor of ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), for his huge investment in education, which he said accounted for the institution’s ranking as the best university in Nigeria and 72 globally.

 

Alhassan, who was represented by Mr Aliu Adamu, said, “I commend the founder of this institution, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), for his giant strides and commitment to education.

 

“I sincerely congratulate the parents and guardians of the inductees for their commitment, support, and contributions both morally and financially towards the remarkable achievement of the inductees in this great institution.

 

“Today marks a significant milestone in your journey as you are embarking on your professional career. Be dedicated to compassion, caring, and commitment to the well-being of your patients.”

 

In her opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Smaranda Olarinde charged the inductees, as modern nurses to develop competence, embrace global relevance, and provide quality care in a rapidly changing healthcare environment.

 

“In a world confronted by complex health challenges, climate shocks, emerging diseases, and global pandemics, the role of the nurse has become more indispensable than ever before. At ABUAD, we strongly affirm that Nursing remains the mother of Medicine and the heartbeat of every functional healthcare system.

 

“Just yesterday the senate approved an Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy for the institution, making us a leading institution in Nigeria to have adopted the ethical use and implementation of AI in learning, research and innovation.”

 

In her lecture titled: Nursing Beyond the Bedside: Leading Practice, Education and Research in the AI Era, the Professor in Medical Surgical Nursing, with special Interest in Psychosocial Oncology, Oncology Nursing/Care and Women’s Health, at University of Ibadan, Prof Beatrice Ohaeri emphasised having empathy as the core value of a nurse.

 

She noted that though AI has greatly improved health care services, it can’t provide empathy, urging the inductees to be compassionate, adding that nurses must engage use of AI while maintaining core values of the profession.

 

“Therefore, nurses must actively engage in AI-driven development, while maintaining the professional core values of compassion, of intimacy and the vision of the self-perception.”