Medical authorities have reacted to the hiring of nurses from off island, describing it as a band aid solution which cannot be sustained. They suggest that the hospital management be more creative in attracting students to the nursing profession.
For example, why not forgive student loans, waive tuition, or make other offers that students cannot refuse.
“I really don’t have any issues with Filipino or Fiji nurses or doctors,” said one member of the medical profession who preferred that he not be named. “But when this becomes our main source of building our capacity, then we have failed as a government to build our own people.”
Others have blamed the nursing management who have been in the position for several decades for not doing anything to attract nurses, other than just bringing up the acute shortage of nurses year after year, with no solution.
KHJ News asked the CEO of the LBJ Hospital, Moefaauo Bill Emmsley, if any incentives are being offered to attract students at this time.
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Moefaauo says that the whole educational system is called into question.
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