Around 450 nurses from government hospitals in Tiruchi district carried out their duties wearing badges listing three demands as part of a State-wide demonstration by Tamil Nadu Government Nurses Association on Wednesday.
Nurses at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital attached to the K.A.P.Viswanatham Government Medical College were among the 18,000 nurses who pinned badges to express their demands, according to Leelavathi, secretary, Tamil Nadu Government Nurses Association.
The association has demanded that promotions should be given in keeping with the norms of Indian Nursing Council, an autonomous body constituted by the Central government, to establish a uniform standard of training for nurses.
Staff nurses in Tamil Nadu were promoted only after 30 years of service. The interval between promotions has led to a dearth of supervisors, said Ms.Leelavathi.
If the scenario persists, it may lead to compromise in patient services, felt office-bearers. The association has appealed for time-bound promotions every 10 years and creation of posts such as ward supervisors and assistant nurses.
The association has also demanded for regularising contract nurses employed in various government hospitals over the State. There are more than 6,000 contract nurses in Tamil Nadu. While the contract period is typically two years, close to 3,000 nurses have worked for five years as contract staff with minimal pay, said an office-bearer.
In Thanjavur, nurses at Raja Mirasdar medical college hospital participated.
