The Iranian Nursing Association has given Health Minister Seyyed Hassan Qazizadeh Hashemi an ultimatum to cancel a directive requiring hospitals to train nurses “or face serious consequences”.
The idea of training nursing staff inside hospitals was officially proposed by the Health Ministry’s education department in February. In May, Hashemi issued a directive requiring at least three hospitals in every district to train nurses, Salamatnews.com reported.
However, the association has opposed the plan from the onset.
Hassan Navipour, a member of the association, complained that following the directive hospitals have been under pressure to announce their capacity for nurse training.
“We oppose the education of nurses outside an academic system,” he said, adding that they will not stop protesting until the minister nullifies the directive.
The plan was devised to make up for the shortage of nursing staff but has been heavily criticized by nurses.
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