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March 26, 2024
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International Nursing Day: “Nurses are indispensable in safeguarding public health”

Special on International Nursing Day 12 MAY, By: Ashwani Joshi, a Naval Veteran turned Social Activist

PUNJAB/ NAWANSHAHR: International Nurses Day celebrated on 12th May to mark the birth anniversary of “The Lady with the Lamp” Florence Nightingale and  to thank all worldwide Nurses, for their  tireless efforts , contributions and dedication. Nurses are indispensable in safeguarding public health. As Val Saintsbury rightly said, “Nurses dispense comfort, compassion, and caring without even a prescription.”  

This global campaign sets out what we want for nursing in the future in order to address global health challenges and improve global health for all. We need to learn from the lessons of the pandemic and translate these into actions of the future.

Let this day not pass on like any other celebrated day with just a slogan, “OUR NURSES , OUR   FUTURE” but pause and think what the government and our society must do to meet the need of the future.

Topping the list of most populated countries,  the aging of the Indian population has significant ramifications for institutions such as business, education, the healthcare industry, and the family, as well as for the many cultural norms and traditions that focus on interactions with and social roles for older people. 

Redefining the Old age !

“Old” is a socially defined concept, and the way we think about aging is likely to change as the population ages. Due to longer life expectancy and declining fertility rates, if age 60 was termed ‘old’ a century back, it may be  redefined as 65.

Whats the alarming need of today?

Punjab Govt lacking, nurses migrating ?

With youth trend to migrate to foreign countries, Punjab is facing the shortage of skilled nurses too whereas ambitious and qualified nurses are dreaming high valued jobs abroad!   With increasing population, and replacing old retired nurses, the demand of qualified Nurses is exponencial. Whereas the government seems lacking in this aspect.Nurses as officers:

Whereas inline with various policies of central Govt, some of the states  have already recognised the Nurses as officers but Punjab has failed to justify the services and honor of its nurses. If corrected many of the qualified nurses would prefer to serve at its motherland.

Defence services on top

 In indian defence services all nurses are highly talented and serve with honor as commissioned officers, commanding high respect for their profession.

Prepare for Senior citizens’ Nursing

As our population is growing old we would need to pay attention to Gerontological and geriatric nursing.  You will agree that this term is hardly known to common man and most hospitals need to invest on this as a dire future need. Govt which talks of welfare of senior citizens, have none of the leaders or ministers ever made any news on this. It’s evident that this piece of article must open their eyes.  Elder care requires dedicated personnel to understand patients’ needs and to deliver appropriate care.

Gerontological nursing?

Gerontological nursing is the specialty of nursing pertaining to older adults. Gerontological nurses work in collaboration with older adults, their families, and communities to support healthy aging, maximum functioning, and quality of life.

A goal of a gerontological nurse is to provide the highest-quality care to older adults. Gerontological nurses focus on “the process of aging and the protection, promotion, restoration, and optimization of health and functions,” according to the American Nurses Association.

Geriatric nursing?

Geriatrics deals with the care of the elderly and their needs, gerontology is the study of aging and its impacts on the population. They deal with the care of these older adults. 

How can nurses explore these trends?

It’s a multipronged approach. Nursing schools should expand their community health education to prepare nurses for these trends and shift the focus from disease management to concentrating on partnering with patients to achieve wellness.Nurses appreciated:

No doubt nurses have deep knowledge of delivering the best health care services.  Nurses are the people who meet the local needs of the patients, have proper knowledge about how to handle patients properly, improve the physical, and mental well-being of the patients, etc. Nurses play an essential role in our medical institutions such as giving safety or helping in the recovery of patients etc. No doubt when some patient is in need of care then nurses work tirelessly to identify and protect the needs of the individual. They have immense knowledge and several skills that they spend in an organisation for perfection and development. Most of the time nurses work in tough environments where extreme stress is a part of their job.
There’s a common misconception that you must practice in a hospital before anything else, but that’s not true. Follow your interests. Do lots of reading, and not just nursing publications. Get plugged into philanthropic organizations that focus on healthcare. Having diversity of thought when contemplating your nursing career is essential.

Nurses too have the responsibility to justify the past slogans like “A vision for future healthcare”, “Nursing the World to Health: ,  “Nursing: The Balance of Mind, Body, and Spirit”.

Remember “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” once said by Mother Teresa

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