Nurses are the linchpin of the international health sector since the time immemorial. But what is the linchpin? It is a pin that passes through up to the end of an axle to keep the wheel in position and running.
That is the crucial and vital role of nurses, too, in hospitals, and they tirelessly work to ensure delivery of comprehensive health care to patients irrespective of their economic and social status. Nurses' duty commences from the very moment, the patient is wheeled into the hospital premises and ends only when the final discharge slip is handed over. Nurses provide the bulk of daily care, serve as liaisons between patients and physicians and, in some cases, even fill the role of doctors.
India, because of its trained manpower of nurses, is acclaimed across the globe for having a rich repository of care providers. But, a robust ecosystem to ensure constant deployment of nurses in the health sector is yet to be established at desired and required levels, so as to meet the burgeoning demand of trained nursing hands.
"Nurses provide and monitor patient care, educate patients and family members about health conditions, provide medications and treatments, give emotional support and advice to patients and their family members during the crisis."
We will also have to mobilize more strong political will to invest in building effective evidence-based nursing and midwifery workforce development in the country.
Nurses' responsibilities vary by specialization or unit but most share more similarities than differences.
To meet this uphill task of having well-trained hands, we need more nursing colleges with sound training programs in a time-bound fashion.
Over the years, resolutions on nursing and midwifery adopted by the WHO and World Health Assembly have helped to provide a strong foundation for strengthening nursing and midwifery services.
We must also develop and regularly strengthen strategies such as: the capacity of nursing and midwifery workforce through the provision of support to healthcare providers on having the optimum number of nurses, action plans for reorientation courses and cohesive working among interdisciplinary health teams at the facilities.
As we are inching towards, the universal health programs, we have to ensure that India produces an adequate number of nurses every year. We have to ensure an educated, competent and motivated nursing and midwifery workforce within effective and responsive health systems at all levels and in different settings; advanced training through intra and inter-professional collaborative partnerships, education and continuing professional development.
In India, we want more nursing colleges as our nurses are the best. There is a huge demand for nurses internationally and well-trained hands are preferred everywhere.
Because of huge differences in salary packages and growing charm for foreign assignments, every year, a large number of nurses are leaving the country for greener pastures abroad. Given the size of the population, India needs more nurses to run healthcare smoothly.
As the world is taking shape of a global village due to digital technology, Nurses find it very easy to explore job opportunities abroad and they don't feel the pinch of homesickness due to the availability of cheap internet service to maintain a link back home during their careers.
I feel guidelines to make nursing colleges should be flexible and the government should encourage those who want to start nursing colleges as well as there should be more super specialty courses for them to meet any exigencies in emergency wards.
Nurses provide and monitor patient care, educate patients and family members about health conditions, provide medications and treatments, give emotional support and advice to patients and their family members during the crisis. Nurses are the first contact point for patients and attendants so we should give good communication training also to nurses. There should be some courses for nurses they should be recognized and many more.
They also work with healthy people by providing preventative health care and wellness information through various training programs that are held even in rural swathes.
As the government's health plan, Ayushman Bharat, is catching up, more hands are needed to cope up with building up pressure on the healthcare facilities due to the ever-increasing number of patients and provision of cheap treatment under the plan.
With advanced courses training, they will be more confident and professionally empowered enough to handle a complex situation. Many times, Paramedics' training and availability gain more significance in the wake of non-availability of experts what doctors describe as a golden hour to save patients.
Upasana Arora, Chief Executive Officer
Currently working as Chief Executive Officer at Yashoda Super Speciality Hospitals, Upasana Arora has also served as Director for more than a decade in Yashoda Super Speciality Hospitals. Upasana has offered services as Assessor in the National Accreditation Board of Hospitals & Health Care Providers and CII (Confederation of Indian Industry). Being a strong leader in the Healthcare Sector of India Upasana has bagged many recognized awards such as 'Arch of Excellence' and 'Gem of India' in 2010, 'Women Leadership and Innovation Award 2013', 'Leading Women in Healthcare' and the list goes on.
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