Bolgatanga: Professor Vida Nyagre Yakong, the Deputy Registrar in charge of Operations of the Health Facilities Regulatory Authority (HeFRA), has urged newly admitted students of the Bolgatanga Nursing Training College to uphold integrity, compassion, and professionalism throughout their training and future careers. Addressing the matriculation ceremony for the 2025/2026 academic year, Professor Yakong described nursing as a noble profession built on trust and service and told the students that their conduct would shape public confidence in healthcare delivery.
According to Ghana News Agency, Professor Yakong emphasized that the students are not just learners but professionals-in-training. She highlighted the importance of trust in the nursing profession, stating that the students are entering fields where trust is the main currency. She advised the fresh students to avoid examination malpractice, forged signatures, and other unethical practices, underscoring that integrity involves doing the right thing even when unobserved.
The Deputy Registrar outlined three guiding pillars for the students: integrity, compassion, and professionalism. She stressed that technical competence alone is insufficient for a successful nursing career, emphasizing that compassion must be the greatest skill a nurse possesses. Compassion, she explained, is demonstrated through simple acts of kindness, patience, and support for patients and colleagues.
Professor Yakong also advised that professionalism extends beyond academic and clinical settings. She cautioned that their conduct on campus, social media, and in the community shapes the image of their profession, urging them to build a reputation they would be proud of in the future. Drawing from her own experience as a former student at the institution, she encouraged the students to cultivate discipline, perseverance, humility, and resilience for academic success.
Additionally, Professor Yakong urged the students to seek mentors who could guide them through the challenges of nursing education and professional practice. She paid tribute to the late former principal of the college, Mr. Sayimah Kombia, recognizing him as a mentor whose legacy continues to inspire generations of nurses.
Concluding her address, Professor Yakong challenged the students to become problem-solvers, emphasizing that Ghana needs individuals capable of addressing challenges rather than merely holding certificates. She motivated the students to sign the matriculation register with confidence, reminding them of their purpose and encouraging them to serve diligently.