GPHA nurses undergo emergency and critical care training
A two-week Emergency and Critical Care System Strengthening Initiative training is currently underway for nurses of the Gulf Provincial Health Authority (GPHA) in Kerema.
The training comes under the Regional Emergency and Critical Care Systems Strengthening Initiative, an organization sponsored by the Australian Government in partnership with the National Department of Health (NDoH) and St John Ambulance Services PNG.
The training counterfunded by the Gulf Provincial Health Authority through the office of the Curative Health Services, aims to upskill frontline nurses to better respond to emergency cases encountered daily.
A total of 18 participants are attending, comprising of four specialists from the emergency unit and nurses from other units of the Kerema General Hospital. To ensure health services continue uninterrupted, participants have been divided into two groups, with both groups to undergo the same training a week apart.
Manager Nursing Services Sr. Helen Morito said the on-site training is cost-effective and allows more staff to attend. She highlighted that in most cases; it is the nurses on the ground who deal with emergency cases in the absence of doctors and physicians.
"Trainings like this help nurses reflect on how we treat patients — whether it was the right way or not. Most of the times we tend to forget what we were taught, and this will help refresh their minds. Most times it is the nurses who are on the ground attending to emergencies when there are no doctors," Sr. Morito said.
Hospital Manager Jim Lapai echoed similar sentiments, noting that it is often nurses who are first to attend to emergencies.
"Most times it is the nurses on the ground that deal with the emergency cases. I hope that with this training they can do their best in delivering their service to our patients. The level of work done has not reached the standard level. Most work done is 50/50 and not 100% like it should be."
He added that this is the first time a team has come to do this training and help staff upskill their knowledge when dealing with emergency cases
Provincial Health Training Coordinator Noah Mavoho, who has been vocal about continuous training, welcomed the initiative, especially with the developments happening at Kerema General Hospital.
"All staff should be equipped and ready to work and meet some of the requirements of the new level 5 hospital that is currently in progress of being built," Mavoho said.
Facilitating the training is Dr. Ovia Bue, an Emergency Physician from the Central Provincial Health Authority. alongside Sr. Eresi Iowa an Emergency nurse from the Port Moresby General Hospital. Dr. Bue said the training will focus on basic emergency care and the Interagency Integrated Triage Tool (IITT).
"The first week will be training, and the second week will be the implementation of the IITT system in the hospital," Dr. Bue explained.
The group-based approach ensures that while one group is in training, the other remains on duty, keeping essential services running at the GPHA.
Once fully implemented, the IITT triage system is expected to significantly improve emergency response and patient outcomes in Gulf Province.