MISPLACED COMPARISON OF RNMs AND RN/RMHNs:
The comparison being made between pre-service (direct) trained Registered Nurse Midwives (RNMs) and in-service (post-basic) trained Registered Mental Health Nurses (RN/RMHNs) who have been considered for the award of the automated bar code security enhanced Advanced Diplomas is misplaced.
As clarified in the last posting, the Mental Health Nurses that are eligible for re-registration and award of Advanced Diplomas are those who first trained and qualified as RNs with Diplomas then they went for post basic training as Registeted Mental Health Nurses and qualified with a diplomas in mental health nursing. So the direct (pre-service) trained Registered Mental Health Nurses (RMHNs) beinging trained nowadays are not the ones eligible for re-registration.
Therefore, there is no need for comparison between direct RNMs and direct RMHNs, since it is not the direct trained RMHNs that are eligible for re-registration and award of advanced diplomas.
For the sake of those who do not know or perhaps have just forgotten the historical development of Mental Health Nurse training in Zambia, be reminded or informed that Chainama College of Health Sciences first used to train Enrolled Psychiatric Nurses (EPNs), then in the late 1990s it started training In-Service RNs as Registered Mental Health Nurses for a period of one year and six months (making the training of a Mental Health Nurse in Zambia last a total of 4 years and 6 months). Upon graduation, they were being awarded Diplomas in Mental Health Nursing. These are the ones being refered to as RN/RMHNs and now eligible for re-registration and award of Advanced Diplomas.
Chainama College of Health Sciences is now training direct Registered Mental Health Nurses (RMHNs) just like Lusaka College of Nursing and Monze College of Nursing are training direct RNMs. All these are not eligible for the current re-registration exercise. Instead, they will be advised at an appropriate time.
Hopefully, now people know and understand the correct category of Registered Mental Health Nurses that are eligible for Advanced Diplomas.
Thank you
Issued by
Thom D. Yungana
MANAGER REGULATION AND COMPLIANCE
AND
SPOKESPERSON
For/REGISTRAR AND CEO
GENERAL NURSING COUNCIL OF ZAMBIA
