Principal of the Sahyadri College of Nursing, Mangalore, Irene Veigas said on Friday that in chronic care prevention was the primary responsibility of nurses.
Prof. Veigas was speaking at a function to mark International Nurses' Day. The theme of the programme was “Delivering quality, serving communities: nurses leading chronic care”. It was organised by the Manipal College of Nursing (MCON), the Manipal School of Nursing, and the Nursing Service Department of Kasturba Hospital here.
She pointed out that fundamental global, economic and societal changes and rapid urbanisation were the reasons for growing chronic illnesses. There should be social and economic development. Millennium goals should be set, achieved, and maintained to check chronic illnesses, she said.
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Presiding over the function, Pro-Chancellor of Manipal University H.S. Ballal said that nurses were on par with other medical professionals. “Patients always talk about the quality of nursing care they receive. Nurses are the frontline care-givers,” he said.
Vice-Chancellor of the university Rajshekaran Warrier said that nurses should not lose their clinical skills. Nurses in India should diversify into different specialties such as nurse clinician, anaesthetist and palliative nursing programme, he said.
Dean of MCON Anice George called upon the nurses to learn to be good team players.
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Medical Superintendent of Kasturba Hospital T.S. Raghu Raman, Nursing Superintendent of Kasturba Hospital Yashodha and Principal of the Manipal School of Nursing Kasturi Adiga were present.
A quiz competition was conducted on the occasion.