By Bill W. Cooper
The Liberia Board for Nursing and Midwifery (LBNM) has launched a new digital application platform to improve the licensing and certification process for nursing and midwifery professionals in the country.
The app, called LBNM Digital Application, was developed in partnership Neonicz and international partners, is now available on lbnm.gov.lr.
Additionally, the launch of LBNM Digital Application marks a significant step forward for the nursing and midwifery profession in Liberia unlike the past where the licensing and certification process was slow and paper-based, leading to delays and errors.
The LBNM saids with the new digital application, nurses and midwives can now apply for, and renew their licenses online, thus reducing wait times and streamlining the process, as it is user-friendly and easy to navigate, as well as allows nurses and midwives to create a personal profile, upload their credentials, and track the status of their license applications.
The LBNM app also features a secure payment system, allowing users to pay their licensing fees directly through the app, and also aims to enhance communication between the LBNM and nursing and midwifery professionals in Liberia.
The LBNM noted that its Digital Application, which brought together several government officials including stakeholders in the health sector and partners, includes a messaging system that allows users to communicate directly with the LBNM, as well as access to news and updates from the board.
Speaking yesterday, June 12, 2023 during the launching of the Application at the Mamba Point Hotel in Monrovia, LBNM Registrar/Executive Secretary, Cecelia Kpangbala-Flomo, expressed her excitement about the new digital application.
She stated that the LBNM is committed to using technology to improve the nursing and midwifery profession in Liberia and that the launch of the LBNM Digital Application is a significant milestone in that effort.
She emphasized the importance of nursing and midwifery professionals in the healthcare system, and urged them to take advantage of the new digital application to ensure that they remain licensed and certified to practice.
Launching the LBNM Digital Application, the Deputy Minister of Health for administration Norwu Howard thanked LBNM registrar and team for the level of amazing work done by rebranding and improving the LBNM.
She emphasized the need for the LBNM to move towards the institutionalization of mandatory competency, based testing, for all nursing skills as means to improve competence and skills of old and new nurses.
She stressed the need for government through the LBNM to develop 30-90 days orientation plans for new student nurses.
According to her, the progressive steps that are being taken by the LBNM to digitize tests and other paper-based processes are a testament to the Liberian government commitment to improve healthcare in Liberia, by building the skills of the people closest to the bedside.
Minister Howard said, “With the progression to use of digital tools for testing, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and so, we look forward to a time when nurses will have the skills and digital tools needed at the bedside to provide evidenced based care.”
“This way, we are bound to reduce medication and treatment errors; reduce the cost of care, improve the quality of care, promote transparency and make medical records portable, so healthcare providers can have access to information needed to treat their patients,” She asserted.
Meanwhile, the launch of LBNM Digital Application was welcomed by nursing and midwifery professionals at the official launching ceremony, which some of them expressed their appreciation for the convenience and efficiency of the new digital application.
They believe that it will make the licensing and certification process more accessible and transparent, ultimately benefiting both professionals and patients.
The development of the LBNM Digital Application is part of a broader effort by the LBNM to modernize the nursing and midwifery profession in Liberia. The board has been working to improve training and education for nursing and midwifery professionals, as well as to strengthen the regulatory framework for the profession.
The launch of the new digital application is a significant step forward in these efforts. It demonstrates the LBNM’s commitment to using technology to improve healthcare in Liberia and to support the nursing and midwifery profession.
