Need more nurses that are qualified in days to come

However, there is a shortage of qualified nursing corps in India. According to an analysis of data from the Indian Nursing Council (INC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), India is short of 1.94 million nurses, mainly due to low recruitment, migration, attrition and inadequate working conditions. This is particularly worrying because, according to NHP 2016, India’s nurse-to-population ratio is 1:475.14, including registered nurses and midwives and lady health visitors, a figure that is way behind WHO’s recommended nurse-to-patient ratio of 1:500.

While nursing schools in India have a curriculum imparting the traditional knowledge, the growing influence of technology implies that nurses continuously upgrade their skills. A trained nurse with an elementary technical knowhow probably will be more sought after than those who have a formal training but no technical knowledge. Emerging global threats such as microbial resistance, infections, new pandemics, and natural disasters have added to the requisite skill set of a nurse, as they are the first responders. An educated and well-trained nurse adept at communicating with patients and connecting with citizens, communities and policy makers is an asset few will intend to part with. Much like any other field, nursing professionals too need to upgrade their skills at regular interval. They can join educational sessions and meetings to increase their understanding and keep their skills up to date.