UGMC Dep. Director of Nursing Services, PACU

Mrs. Rita Adarku-Kai Odonkor is a Deputy Director of Nursing Services at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), with extensive experience in critical care nursing, post-anaesthesia care, nursing leadership, clinical education, mentorship, and healthcare quality improvement. 

With expertise in critical care and perioperative nursing practice, she has developed strong competencies in patient management, emergency response, clinical assessment, and the provision of safe, compassionate, patient- and family-centred care. She is passionate about strengthening nursing practice through effective leadership, professional development, evidence-based care, and continuous improvement of healthcare delivery systems. 

Mrs. Odonkor is also committed to nursing education, mentorship, and capacity building. Beyond clinical practice, she contributes to health communication and professional nursing publications through her writing and editorial work with NURSCAPE Magazine. She is recognised for her dedication to advancing nursing excellence through innovation, research, and the promotion of high-quality patient care. 

  

Area of Expertise
Critical Care Nursing, Post-Anaesthesia Care Nursing (PACU), Nursing Leadership and Management, Patient Safety and Quality Improvement, Nursing Education, Mentorship and Professional Development, Evidence-Based Nursing Practice, Health and Nursing Research, Health Communication, and Nursing Publications. 

Mrs. Odonkor has extensive experience in nursing leadership, critical care practice, perioperative nursing, healthcare administration, and professional development. She currently serves as the Deputy Director of Nursing Services at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), where she contributes to the strategic coordination and delivery of nursing services while supporting quality improvement initiatives and professional nursing standards. 

Throughout her career, she has worked as a Critical Care Nurse and Post-Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Nurse, providing specialised nursing care for critically ill patients and patients recovering from anaesthesia. Her clinical experience has equipped her with expertise in recovery monitoring, emergency response, airway management, oxygen therapy, haemodynamic monitoring, and the management of complex patient care needs. 

Mrs. Odonkor has also served as a Nursing Administrator, Nursing Mentor, and Trainer, where she has supported workforce development through mentorship, training, and professional capacity-building initiatives. She is committed to developing nursing professionals and promoting continuous learning within healthcare environments. 

In addition to her clinical and leadership roles, she is a writer and contributor to NURSCAPE Magazine, where she supports nursing communication and professional knowledge sharing. She also applies her skills in graphic design and health communication to support health education, professional publications, and nursing-related content development. 

Mrs. Odonkor’s professional and research interests include critical care nursing, patient safety, quality improvement, nursing leadership and management, nursing workforce development, evidence-based nursing practice, nursing education, health systems strengthening, mentorship, and research and innovation in nursing practice. 

Mrs. Odonkor possesses expertise in critical care nursing, post-anaesthesia care, patient management, emergency response, resuscitation, clinical assessment, airway management, oxygen therapy, and haemodynamic monitoring. She has strong competencies in nursing leadership, healthcare administration, mentorship, coaching, training, and capacity building. 

She demonstrates excellent skills in research and scientific writing, health communication, editorial content development, and professional publications. She is also experienced in quality improvement, patient safety initiatives, teamwork, collaboration, and the delivery of compassionate, patient- and family-centred care. 

Mrs. Rita Adarku-Kai Odonkor is a member of the following professional organisations: 

 

Mrs. Rita Adarku-Kai Odonkor holds an MSc in Advanced Nursing Practice from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. She also holds a Certificate in Leadership and Management from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). 

She obtained an Advanced Diploma in Critical Care Nursing from the School of Perioperative and Critical Care Nursing, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra. She further holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Nursing from the University of Ghana, Legon, and a General Nursing qualification (State Registered Nurse) from the Nurses’ Training College, Korle-Bu, Accra. 

Mrs. Odonkor is proficient in English, Ga, and Twi.