The Nurses and Midwives Association has expressed worry over the manner in which nurses log onto social media websites or watch television during working hours.

According to the Association, such activities distract nurses from concentrating on their core duty of caring for patients.

Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Association, Daniel Atta Tuffuor says the essence of smart phones are being misapplied as many of the nurses tend to log onto facebook and twitter at the expense of the patients in their care.

He said some nurses have also become addicted to watching telenovelas, Mexican Soap-operas, even in the wards, where they are supposed to be caring for and responding to the needs of patients.

"Sometimes, when they go to the wards, instead of concentrating on the care of the patients, some of them will be fidgeting with their phones whatsapping, discussing other issues, which are not relevant to the patients' care...and that is not what we have taught them," he stated.

Mr. Atta Tuffuor, who is also the Principal of the Kwadaso Nurses College told Luv FM's Erastus Asare Donkor that hospital managers must enforce strict professional standards to discourage the trend.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health has described the development as disturbing, stressing that authorities must act fast to avert disasters that could result from such acts.

Advocacy Officer for the Coalition, Michael Boadi, also emphasized on the need to uphold the rights of the patient, which is key in providing quality health care.