Yuni Azizah Student Masters Of Nursing Science UI: Monitoring STR For The Life Of Nurses In Indonesia Is Very Important

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government has passed Law Number 17 of 2023 concerning Health, which brings significant changes related to Registration Certificates (STR) for medical personnel and health workers. One of the main changes is the implementation of a lifetime STR for nurses. This policy aims to ensure that registered nurses remain competent, skilled, and adhere to ethical standards throughout their careers.

Previously, nurses had to renew their STR every five years. However, with this new policy, a lifetime STR was implemented. This provides career stability for nurses and encourages the improvement of their skills and knowledge. In addition, this policy also protects patients by ensuring that nurses who practice meet the requirements of education, qualifications, and ethics set out.

Yuni Azizah, Student Master of Nursing Sciences, Care for Leadership and Nursing Management, Faculty of Nursing Sciences, University of Indonesia expressed her opinion on this policy. According to him, although this policy has significant benefits, there are some limitations that need to be considered.

"One of the questions that arise is how to ensure the quality of nurses registered for life. Given that the number of nurses in Indonesia increased by 10.3 percent to 563,739 in 2022, strong and sustainable monitoring is needed to ensure they remain competent and follow the latest developments in nursing practices," Yuni said, in a written statement, Saturday, December 30.

Yuni explained that the Nursing Consile is an institution responsible for the registration of medical personnel and health workers. This contribution carries out its duties independently to improve the quality of the practice and technical competence of medical personnel and health workers as well as provide protection and legal certainty to the community.

As conveyed by the Head of the Standardization Division of Nursing Consiles Maya Ratnasari during a visit by students of the School of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, University of Indonesia, to the Nursing Consile on November 29, 2023, it was said that the implementation of the STR, which was originally 5 years old, became a lifetime because the STR was more of an administrative process for recording health workers so that it was enough to do once in a lifetime. Meanwhile, the retailing process which was originally in STR will be attached to the process of extending the Practice Permit (SIP).

The importance of monitoring the STR for life is related to patient safety. The practice of nursing that is not up-to-date or not according to standards can endanger patients.

"Therefore, nurses need to continue to improve competence and comply with high ethical standards. In facing this challenge, the government needs to cooperate with related institutions to implement effective lifelong STR monitoring," Yuni explained.

Five proposed policy recommendations include ongoing monitoring methods, increased training and development, cross-sectoral cooperation, sustainable development of monitoring systems, and awareness of ethics and professionalism.

Yuni hopes that with the implementation of life-long STR monitoring, high-quality nursing practices can be maintained. With skilled nurses, up-to-date, and complying with high ethical standards, patient safety will be even more guaranteed. This policy will also support the development of a better health system in Indonesia.

"In conclusion, the implementation of a lifetime STR for nurses is an important step in improving patient safety and the quality of nursing practices in Indonesia. Cooperation is needed between the government, the Ministry of Health, the Consile of Nursing, the Consil of Indonesian Health Workers, the Institute of Health Services, and educational institutions to implement this policy effectively," concluded Yuni.