DR. MARY OPARE PRECEPTORSHIP AWARD

1. A registered member of GRNMA with valid PIN
2. A minimum of 10 years working experience
3. A minimum of 5 years preceptor experience
4. Evidence of training in preceptorship
5. Evidence of active advocacy for students and new staff
6. Evidence of tangible achievement in precepting students and new staff
7. Evidence of training of staff on preceptorship – capacity development
8. Active participating in assessment/evaluation of students
9. Actively engage faculty on students’ learning outcomes
10. Abreast with current literature in practice area
11. Evidence of attendance/presentation at seminars/symposia/conferences

 

Short Bio of Dr. Mary Opare

Dr. Mary Opare is the Head of Department of Nursing at the Central University of Ghana (CU).
She retired from the University of Ghana, Legon, in 2006 as the Acting Dean of School of Nursing. In her thirty nine years of active service, Dr. Opare worked as a bed-side nurse from 1967 to 1972 at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Prince Marie Louise Hospital, Ridge Hospital and 37 Military Hospital. Her teaching career began in 1974, at the Tamale Nurses Training College where she and some Canadians started the Nursing Training School. She was later transferred to Korle-Bu Nurses Training College in 1984. She joined the Department of Nursing, University of Ghana, Legon in 1998 and became the Head of Department in 2000. She led the Department to become a School in the College of Health Sciences at the University of Ghana and was appointed the Acting Dean of Nursing in 2003. Dr. Opare has served and is still serving on several boards and committees. She was instrumental in starting the MPhil Nursing programme at the University of Ghana and introduced Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) to Ghana. She was the winner of the International Council of Nursing prestigious 3M award in 1991.

Dr. Opare introduced preceptorship training in Ghana in 1997 after completion of her Masters in Canada where she researched on the concept. She is very committed to preceptorship and has conducted several trainings including trainer of trainers’ workshops for both tutors and clinicians. These trainings have positively impacted a lot of students in skills development and overall enhancement of clinical experience.