COUNTRY:
SOLOMON ISLANDS
Western Pacific Region Nursing/Midwifery Databanks
COUNTRY: SOLOMON ISLANDS
1.
Historical events in nursing and midwifery (e.g. milestones in the development of
nursing and midwifery)
1870
Early missionaries arrived and nursing was first introduced in Solomon Islands.
19001950
Nursing work was established; some Health Workers were trained by Churches and were known as
"Orderlies". Later the name changed to "Midwife" for a woman and "Dresser" for a man.
1951
The Government appointed Mrs Wood and the First Matron to the Central Hospital for training nurses.
The programme duration was eighteen (18) months and very few boys were able to attend.
1952
The Central Hospital Training School for nurses was established. The 18 months course was increased
to three years duration. Only men undertook this training because girls were not permitted by their
parents to come to Honiara which was at that time considered to be full of iniquities.
1954
Male Graduates from the three years Nursing Course were designated "Medical Assistants". Two church
nurse training institutions, Helena Goldie and Fauambu were accorded due recognition by the Nurses
and Midwives Board. The graduates were given the title "Registered Nurse".
1957
The first two female students from Santa Cruz in Temotu Province were admitted to the Central Hospital
for nurse training.
1959
An ordinance to provide for the Registration of Nurses for the sick and Midwives and to regulate their
st
Practice; the Nurses and Midwives Board was approved and commenced on 1 April 1959.
1960
The three year nurse training programme at Central Hospital School of Nursing was approved by the
Nurses and Midwives Board.
1968
The Nurses and Midwives Board approved students who have acquired two years Secondary Education
as the minimum entry requirement for the School of Nursing.
1970
Establishment of a Superintendent of Nursing Services post at MHMS HQ to head the national health
service. This post was held by an expatriate.
1972
The need to expand nursing care services for people in Honiara saw the establishment of the Honiara
Urban Nursing Services (HUNS) under the Honiara Town Council. The Solomon Islands Nurses
Association (SINA) was formed. A first career structure for nurses in Solomon Islands was developed.
Developed a curriculum for Post Basic Course in Nursing and Management for senior nurses on
supervisory levels.
1974
The Nurses and Midwives Board approved the new curriculum for Basic Nursing Education. The Board
also approved the new general educational and academic entry requirement for nurse training
programme as Form IV and Form V school students. The first formal training programme for Hospital
Aides was developed and conducted at the Central Hospital. The last intake for registered nurse training
programme at Fauabu Hospital under the Church of Melanesia in Malaita Province. A first group of
Village Health Aides were enrolled on a one year programme in Malaita Province.
1975
Helena Goldie Hospital Nursing School under the United Church in Western Province discontinued its
nurse training programme.
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COUNTRY:
SOLOMON ISLANDS
1976
Reviewed the curriculum for Post Basic Course in Nursing and Management for Senior nurses on
supervisory positions. This is a revision of the 1972 version.
1977
The post of superintendent of nursing services was localized.
1978
Nurse Training Programme at the Hospital of Epiphany, Fauambu, Malaita Province discontinued. Its last
registered nurse completed her fourth year of training. The Hospital of Epiphany, Fauambu, Malaita
Province was designated an Area Health Centre status by Malaita Medical Services. A process for
localization of all nursing positions in Solomon Islands nursing services was commenced.
1980
All supervisory nursing posts within the Solomon Islands Government nursing services were fully
localized. The work on a framework for the Diploma in Nursing Curriculum was carried out by Ms Verna
Rice from Cumberland College of Allied Sciences, Sydney, Australia based on the 1984 certificate in
Nursing Curriculum.
1981
Technical assistance from the Faculty of Nursing, Armidale, Australia and WHO to develop a basic
comprehensive nursing curriculum commenced.
1982
The Central Hospital School of Nursing was localized after five Solomon Island nurses successfully
completed their Diploma in Nurse Education from Armidale College of Advanced Education.
1982
Manual of Obstetrics and Gynaecology for Health Workers in Solomon Islands was developed, under
guidance and help from the OBS/Gynae Team of the National Referral Hospital, Honiara, Solomon
Islands, MCH/FP Unit and Nurses.
1983
Completion of the Development of Basic Comprehensive Nursing Curriculum and Guidelines for
implementation.
1984
Developed a Nursing Practice Procedure Book for Nurses. The School of Nursing was transferred to the
general stream of education under Solomon Islands College of Higher Education (SICHE). A
comprehensive Nursing Programme was first implemented.
1985
The School of Nursing staff and facilities moved completely under the SICHE. First intake of student
nurses by SICHE.
1986
The Comprehensive Nursing Education Programme officially presented to the Academic Board of SICHE
and was accepted.
1987
The Nursing Council Act was passed by Parliament to replace the Nurses and Midwives Ordinance of
1959. The first nurse graduates of SICHE, graduated. The history of the Solomon Islands Nurses
Association was first documented.
1988
The Head of Nursing in MHMS HQ was upgraded to the status of superintendent of Nursing Services.
1989
Solomon Islands Health Centre/Clinic Operations Manual Developed under guidance from the Medex
Group, University of Hawaii (USA) and Save the Children Fund of Australia.
1991
A feasibility study on the introduction of a Post basic Midwifery Course was done by Mr John Sisiolo. It
was envisaged to begin in 1993, but due to a combination of reasons the course did not go off the
ground. Standards for Nursing Practice were developed for the first time.
1992
A Solomon Islands Government Nursing Service, Structure, Grading, staffing and Scheme of Service
st
formally approved by Her Majesty’s Public Service and came into force on 1 January 1992.
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COUNTRY:
SOLOMON ISLANDS
1993
A Review of the Village Health Worker Programme in Solomon Islands. Funded by SCF (Australia) and
conducted by the Primary Health Care Unit (MHMS). World Bank under its Solomon Islands Third
Education and Training Project (TET) accepts to include the School of Nursing and Health Studies
(SICHE) under its funding. It stems from recognition that there is a need to develop the capacity of the
SNHS to train Registered Nurses for the Solomon Islands health care system and enhance the
professional development of those RNs already in the workforce.
1993
Solomon Islands Family Planning Handbook for Health Personnel was produced, sponsored by the South
Pacific Alliance for Family Health (SPAFH).
1994
A Consultancy Team reviews of SNHS to: (1) review of the nursing curriculum of the SNHS with a view
to upgrade the present three year certificate to a Diploma level; (2) assess the capability of the SNHS to
develop outreach programmes and prepared reports and action plans to enable the school to start and
sustain such activities.
1994/95
A standardized nurse aide curriculum was completed and approved by the Solomon Islands Nursing
Council. This was funded under the European Union Rural Health Project.
1995
A new nurse aide training school, "Malu'u Nurse Aide School" in Malaita Province funded by the
European Union under its Solomon Islands Rural Health Infrastructure Project was completed.
Renovation of Girls and Boy's dormitories at the Hellena Goldie Hospital Nurse Aide School, Munda,
Western Province were completed under European Union funding. Solomon Islands College of Higher
Education (SICHE) and the Solomon Islands Nursing Council accepted the Diploma in Nursing
Curriculum and to start enrolments in 1996. The Atoifi School of Nursing under the Seventh Day
Adventist Church continue to train certificated nurses.
1996
Malu'u Nurse Aide Training School in Malaita Province enrolled the first even sixteen (16) students to
undertake the eighteen (18) months training course. The Solomon Islands College of Higher Education
(SICHE) Academic Board gave approval to the reorganized curriculum proposal as a Diploma
programme. A first intake for the Diploma in Nursing (Pre-service) commenced at the School of Nursing
and Health Studies (SNHS) at SICHE.
1997
The diploma curriculum was reviewed by a team of consultants from the Queensland University of
rd
Technology (QUT) under the Solomon Islands 3 Education and Training Project funded by the World
Bank.
1999
First Diploma graduates of SNHS. A total of 36 successfully completed the course. The Seventh Day
Adventist Church revealed its plan in preparing for the upgrading of the certificate in nursing programme
to a Diploma soon. A consultant for WHO, Ms Anne Jacobs, with the assistance of clinicians and nursing
leaders in Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Australia completed the curriculum for the Diploma
in Advanced Nursing (Midwifery). The midwifery units of the curriculum are based on and adapted from
the Advanced Diploma in Nursing (Midwifery Strand), offered by the University of Papua New Guinea
(PNG), Taurama Campus. A Solomon Islands Health Sector Development Project under World Bank
was signed. The Establishment of a Midwifery School, training of midwives, Family Health Card;
improving distance education curriculum in family planning; and improving obstetric service/staffing was
included as component 2, under Maternal Care/Family planning.
2000
A first intake of midwives students to be piloted at the National Referral Hospital, in Honiara. A full intake
for the midwifery school is expected by Year 2003, when the training facilities and hostels are completed.
2003
The Midwifery School classroom including office, Dormitory and staff houses were completed under
funding from the SI Health Sector Development Project at the National Referral Hospital.
2006
A restructure of Nursing was implemented nationwide as part of the revised approved Nursing Scheme of
Service. This resulted in changes of the Organizational Structure, Nursing titles and the development of
Position Descriptions for Nurses.
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COUNTRY:
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2007
Nurse Leader’s forum was organised for Senior Nurses. This was supported by the Health strengthening
Project funded under the Australian Government. It was agreed that this forum be held bi annually.
2009
Work began on the review of the Diploma of Nursing program at the Solomon Islands College of Higher
Education under technical assistance from WHO. Mary Manus, Principal Lecturer of Auckland University
of Technology was engaged in this work.
This work also include redevelopment of Nursing Competencies for the Nursing Council of Solomon
Islands
The biennial Nursing Leaders Conference was successfully conducted. This led to the development of
the Nursing Strategic Directions in preparation for the National Health Strategic Plan (2011 to 2015).
2010
Resolutions for a National Strategic Health Plan (2011-2015) are underway and will incorporate role of
nurses within the health framework.
National Nursing Strategic Directions 2010 to 2014 was completed.
The Supervised Practice Program for Nurse Probationers was reviewed
The National Director of Nursing attended the Government Chief Nurses and Midwifery Officers Forum
and the Triad Meeting in Geneva for the first time
For the first time, the National Director of Nursing was included in the Ministerial Delegation to the World
Health Assembly in Geneva on recommendation by the International Council of Nurses. Nursing was
always included in subsequent meetings thereafter.
The Nurse Aide Training School at Malu’u was suspended pending review of the current Nurse Aide
Certificate program. The other reason for the suspension was because the school was overtraining nurse
aides and most of them remain unemployed.
2011
The National Health Strategic Plan, 2011 to 2015 was launched by the Minister of Health.
A study tour was conducted to Fiji to see the Nurse Practitioners program at the Fiji National University,
School of Nursing. The tour included the Permanent Secretary for Health, National Director of Nursing
and Head of School of Nursing and Health Studies at the then Solomon Islands College of Higher
Education.
The Ministry of Health sent two nurses to Fiji National University, School of Nursing to do a diploma in
Nurse Practioners program with the aim of introducing a similar program in-country.
Consultants Mary McManus and Jo Conaglen from AUT continued their services to the Ministry of Health
and Medical Services (MHMS) and Solomon islands College of Higher Education under funding
arrangements with MHMS.
The Midwifery School jointly run by the then SI College of Higher Education and Ministry of Health was
suspended as it prepares to be an additional strand of the Bachelor Nursing at the Solomon Islands
National University.
2012
Adopted WPSEAR competencies and have developed indicators for standards of education.
The first intake on Bachelor of Nursing (Acute Care and Primary Health strands) graduated from the then
SI College of Higher Education
A report on the Status and Training of Nurse Aides was produced by Consultant Jo Conaglen, senior
lecturer of Auckland University of Technology.
Last Update: October 2013
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COUNTRY:
2013
SOLOMON ISLANDS
The Bachelor of Nursing at the Solomon Islands National University started its Midwifery Strand by taking
in the first Intake.
The National Nursing Administration successfully created senior Nursing positions for the provinces and
National Referral Hospital. These include Assistant Directors of Nursing, Nurse Managers and
Community Health Nurse Consultants. This is to be in line with the emphasis of the Nursing restructure
on improving management at the operational level.
The National Nursing Administration also created a position for Program Manager for Nursing
Administration and Practice including Emergencies and Disaster Coordination.
2.
Regulations and Laws
2.1 Act or Law
Type of
regulations
Nurse
categories
Registration
Registered
Nurses and
midwives
Nurses and Midwives Ordinance of (now
repealed)
1969
Registered
Nurse Aides
Nursing Council Act (1987)
1987
The Nursing Council Regulation draft (1991)
1991
The Nursing Council Amendment Act 1997
1997
and
Licensure
Title of Act or Law
The Nursing Regulation 2
nd
draft (2005)
2005
The Nursing Regulation 3 draft (2008)
2008
The Nursing Regulation final draft (2010)
2010
rd
2.2
Year
Regulatory
authority
Solomon Islands
Nursing Council
Regulatory authority
Authority
Solomon Islands
Nursing Council
Address
Phone
number
Solomon Nursing Council
P.O. Box 349, Honiara, S.I.
677-25588
(Work)
Chairman: Mr Michael Larui
+677 7487608
Vice Chairperson: Edith Fanega
+677 28234
Secretary/Registrar:
Ms Sanneth Talo
+677-20830
Ext. 316/337
(Work)
Last Update: October 2013
Page 5
Fax
number.
e-mail address
677-20085
[email protected] /
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
COUNTRY:
3.
SOLOMON ISLANDS
Nursing and/or Midwifery Associations
Name of
Association
Address
Phone
number
Solomon Island
Nurses
Association
PO Box 233
Honiara, Solomon Islands
(President: Mr William Same)
+677
20830
Solomon Islands
Midwifery Society
P.O. Box 349, Honiara
President: Ms Kathleen Gapirongo
+677
20830
Fax
number
+67720085
E-mail
address
wsame@moh.
gov.sb
kgapirongo@
moh.gov.sb
Nb. Midwives are included under the SI Nurses Association.
4.
Nurse, Midwife leaders and/or focal points
Name and position
title
Organization and Address
Phone
number
Fax
number
E-mail address
Ministry of Health & Medical
Services
PO Box 349
Honiara
Solomon Islands
Tel: 677 20830
+677
20085
Ministry of Health and Medical
Services P.O. Box 349,
Honiara
677 25588
(W)
677 20830
(W)
677
20085
Ms Edith Fanega,
National Deputy Head
of Nursing Management
Ministry of Health and Medical
Services
P.O. Box 349, Honiara
677 28234
677
20085
[email protected].
sb
Ms. Verzilyn Isom
Dean of School of
Nursing and Allied
Health Sciences,
Solomon Island National
University
Solomon Islands National
University, P.O. Box R113,
Honiara
677 38078 (w)
or
677-30111
(SB)
677
30390
[email protected]
.sb
Mr Michael Larui
National Director of
Nursing
Mr George Pego
National Deputy Director
of Nursing - Development
Mr. Henry Gumi
Principal
Helena Goldie Hospital
College of Nursing
Mr. Humpress
Harrington,
Last Update: October 2013
[email protected].
sb
GeorgePego@moh.
gov.sb
pego_cip@yahoo.
com
Helena Goldie Hospital, Munda
P.O., Western Province
[email protected]
om
Atoifi Adventist College of
Nursing, Atoifi Hospital, Malaita
Humpress.harring
[email protected]
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COUNTRY:
SOLOMON ISLANDS
Director of Nursing
Education, Atoifi
Adventist College of
Nursing
Province
Mr Selwyn Houniuhi,
Director of Nursing,
National Referral
Hospital
National Referral Hospital,
Ministry of Health and Medical
Services, P.O. Box 349,
Honiara
677-23600
Ext 349 (w)
677
20085
selwyn.houniuhi1
[email protected]
Mr William Timba,
Director of Nursing,
Choiseul Province
Taro Hospital, Choiseul
Province
677-20830
Ext 3333
677
20085
timbawilliam@yah
oo.com
Mr Jeffrey Korini,
Director of Nursing,
Western Province
Gizo Hospital, Western
Province
677 23600
Ext 349 (W)
677-39028
(H)
6772423
[email protected]
m
Mr Paul Hingei
Director of Nursing
Isabel Province
Buala Hospital, Isabel Province
677-23600
Ext 363 (w)
677-20438 (h)
677
24243
NIL
Mr. Mark Maeliau
Director of Nursing
Malaita Province
Kilu’ufi Hospital, Auki PO,
Malaita
Mr Harvest Miabule
Director of Nursing
Honiara City Council
Honiara City Council, P.O. Box
324, Honiara
Mr Gabriel Vagi
Director of Nursing
Guadalcanal Province
Guadalcanal Provincial
Headquarters, Honiara
Mr Adam Olianamae
Director of Nursing
Rennell Bellona
Province
Tingoa Area Health Centre,
Rennell Island, Rennell Bellona
Province
Mr. John Harara
Director of Nursing
Makira Ulawa Province
Kirakira Hospital, Makira Ulawa
Province
Mr. Augustine Bilve
Director of Nursing
Temotu Province
Ms. Rhelma Harrington,
Director of Nursing,
Atoifi Adventist Hospital
Last Update: October 2013
Lata Hospital, Temotu Province
Atoifi Hospital, Malaita Province
Page 7
maeliaumark@ya
hoo.com
[email protected]
om
COUNTRY:
5.
SOLOMON ISLANDS
Category and functions of nurses and midwives
Category
Registered
Nurse
Entry requirement
Secondary form 6/
7 (Science) with
passes in English,
Math, Science or
passed tests set by
the Institution
Length of
training
3 or 4
years
Level/Credential
Diploma in
Nursing (3 yr)
Now able to do a
bridging course
to a Bachelor of
Nursing (Acute
Care and Primary
Health Care) with
an extra year of
study.
One year
supervised on-thejob experience
required before
registration
Nurse Aide
Secondary form 3
or passed tests set
by the Institution
18 months
(regulations
state
programme
length of
not less
than 1 year
with 6
months
supervised
practice)
Certificate
Midwives
Registered Nurse
1 yr
Advanced
Diploma in
Nursing
(Midwifery)
upgraded to a
Bachelor degree
in 2012
6.
Description
Broad scope of nursing practice
requiring strong communication,
history taking assessment,
diagnostic reasoning skills, in
addition to community
assessment and mobilization
skills. Fifty percent of nurses’
work in hospitals; 50% in rural
areas.
Full range of rural PHC practice.
Provide many of the clinical tasks
of RNs.
Nursing and Midwifery Education (include a diagrammatic illustration if available and
the total number of nursing and midwifery schools)
School of Nursing and Health
Studies offer a three-year nursing
programme and train around 40
nurses per annum. Consultants
have recommended that the
nursing curriculum be further
reoriented toward a primary health
care approach as in the past it has
had a strong curative, biomedical
focus.
Currently there are three nursing
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COUNTRY:
SOLOMON ISLANDS
schools.
1. One of the schools at the SI
National University,
2. Operated by the seventh
Day Adventist Church
3. Operated by the United
Church of Solomon islands
License, Registration and Renewal system
7.
License:
All registered nurses and nurse aides who have undergone a prescribed
nursing course approved by the Solomon Islands Nursing Council are
licensed to practice full general nursing both in the hospital setup and the
Provinces, No nurses or nurse aides are permitted to practice in any
nursing field where they have not received training on.
Registration:
The Solomon Islands Nursing Council registration register is divided into
two parts; part I (Temporary) which is issued to nurses on supervised
practice on twelve months duration and Part II which is issued to those
who have successfully completed their supervised practice programme.
The registry has two divisions: division 1 is to register Registered Nurses
and division 2 is for Registered Nurse Aides. A new register will be opened
soon to register midwives and other specialty areas separately from the
general register. Registration is at the moment for life, but reviews are
being made to change this.
Renewal system:
There is provision for annual renewal of registration in the Nursing Council
Act (1987), but this has not yet been enforced. A review and updating of
the 1991 Nursing Regulations is being made to accommodate annual
renewal of registrations fee plus other fees.
Resources available (e.g. standards, practice guidelines, protocols, policies on nursing
and midwifery workforce, etc)
Subject/Title
Year
published
Description
Comprehensive
Review of Health
Services Report
1996
KAP Survey on
Nurse Aides
1993
Ministry of Health and
Medical Services, Solomon
Islands, Rural Health Project
Brief Comparative
Description of
Registered Nurses
1992
Y. Souares
Last Update: October 2013
Overall review of health services
and programmes, including
policies, programmes, resource
utilization, consumer perceptions
Contact (Name, Address,
Telephone No., Fax No., Email, etc.)
Page 9
Ministry of Health and
Medical Services
(677 25588; fax 20085)
COUNTRY:
SOLOMON ISLANDS
and Nurse Aides in
Solomon Islands
Need Analysis
Report
1996
Distance Education
Learning Modules
1993-1998
National Nursing
Strategic Directions,
2010 to 2014
2011
Nursing Annual
Report, 2010
2011
Learning materials designed for
rural nurses in the areas of family
planning, Obstetrics and
Gynaecology, Paediatrics and
Community Health
Has four Key strategic areas:
1. Nursing Administration and
Management
2. Nursing Education,
Development and Research
3. Nursing regulation
4. Nursing Practice including
Public Health
National Health
Strategic Plan, 2011
to 2015
2011
Nursing
Competencies
2012
Report on Status
and Training of
Nurse Aides
2012
National Nursing
Administration, MHMS
Phone: +677 20830
Based on the four strategic areas
of the National Nursing Strategic
Direction
National Nursing
Administration, MHMS
Has two sets of Polices:
Organizational and Substantive
Health Policies
National Nursing
Administration, MHMS
Revised version
Registrar, Solomon Islands
Nursing Council
Phone: +677 20830
Phone: +677 20830
National Head of Nursing,
National Nursing
Administration, MHMS
Phone: +677 20830
Solomon Islands
Nursing Council Act
1987 and Solomon
Islands Amendment
1997
8.
2013
Registrar, Solomon islands
Nursing Council
Main nursing issues/priorities
 Nurse aides require a clearer scope of practice and adequate training.
 Ongoing review and redevelopment of Nursing Education Programs, Need for nurses
with greater specialist skills suggest a demand for CPD programs.

Evaluation of Nursing and Midwifery Services in SI,
 Review of Positions Descriptions and Organizational Structure,
 Review of Nurses Scheme of Service,
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

SOLOMON ISLANDS
Human Resource for Health,
Review of Solomon Islands Nursing Council and
Development of Nurses Procedure Books.
Main midwifery issues/priorities


9.
Implementation of the Midwifery Competencies
Registration of Midwives
Important policies or strategies needed







10.
Training programs for nurse leaders need reviewing.
Review of the Nursing Council Act and evaluation of Nursing and Midwifery Services is
also needed for improvement to the services provided.
Human Resource Management and Development Plan for Nurses
Training Plan for Nurses
Development of Model of Care Delivery for Nurses
Credentialing Policy
Finalization of the Nursing Regulation
Does your country have a National Health Plan and or Human Resources for
Health Strategy? How have Nursing and Midwifery workforce policies been
integrated into this plan/s?



A National Health Strategic Plan (2011-2015) has been developed and incorporates the National
Nursing Strategic Direction (2010-2014).
Part of the policy integrates workforce analysis with the Provincial Directors of Nursing.
A Human Resource for Health task force was formed to develop the HRH strategy as it is a
priority organizational policy of MHMS. The National Head of Nursing is a member of the
committee.
Last Update: October 2013
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