The nursing profession in Fiji has been told it has done well, but it needs to do better.

The comment came from the Minister for Health and Medical Services, Jone Usamate, while opening the 58th Annual General Meeting for the Fiji Nursing Association (FNA) at the Suva Civic Centre auditorium yesterday.

Mr Usamate said the theme “A Force for Change – Cost Effective and Care Effective” could only be achieved if results were being delivered and nurses rekindled the passion to show care to patients and customers.

“Nurses are our key resource in the health sector in Fiji and with the work that you do, Fiji and other Pacific Island countries are facing shortage of nurses,” he said.

“We are improving on that by increasing the intake of nurses every year and there will be structural changes for nurses to have a career path in specialist areas.

“We need nurses who have the energy to work, are able to energise fellow workmates, make difficult decisions and execute plans,” he said.

FNA general secretary Salanieta Matiavi said the meeting was very productive.

“This is one of the best times we nurses come together and we have presentations from different government ministries on topics of special interest,” she said.

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