(VNF) - The Record of Discussions for a technical cooperation project on “Strengthening clinical training system of newly-graduated nurses” was signed in Hanoi on February 2nd by Vietnam Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Mr. Mori Mutsuya and Director General of the Agency of Science, Technology and Training under the Ministry of Health, Mr Nguyen Cong Khan.

Within the framework of the project, the standard curricula for competency-based clinical training for newly-graduated nurses; the training of trainers system; the monitoring, supervision and auditing; and the roadmap for nationwide scaling-up will be developed. This is the first technical cooperation project of JICA in nursing education, which is expected to improve the capability of nurses, as well as to enhance their social status.

Newly-graduated nurses of secondary medical schools, colleges and universities in the provinces of Dien Bien, Vinh Phuc, Binh Dinh and Dong Nai; and newly-graduated nurses who are practising in Bach Mai Hospital and Saint Paul Hospital in Hanoi will benefit from the project.

Currently, in Vietnam, there are about 150 nursing schools with graduates numbering 36,000 - 40,000 annually.

“Healthcare facilities now have been providing clinical training to newly-graduated nurses. However, there are no standardized training curricula so far; thus, the competency of nurses is not ensured. We do hope that the standard curricula that are going to be developed by the project will contribute to ensure the minimum requirement of nurses at the national scale”, said Mr. Mori Mutsuya.

Vietnam and other ASEAN countries signed an agreement that recognizes each other’s medical service, nursing service and dental service. Accordingly, citizens of member countries with a practising license are allowed to work in other member countries. However, the nation still lacks professional nurses, resulting in a serious need for standardizing clinical training systems for newly-graduated nurses in order to improve the quality of human resources./.

( VNF )