There is a gap between nurses-population ratio and government target. As of now, there is one nurse for every 5,000 population, which the government hopes to narrow down to 1:500 by 2012, according to S. Senthil Kumar, Secretary, E.S. College of Nursing.
He was delivering the presidential address at Nurses Day celebrations held at E.S. College of Nursing here recently. Quoting Dilip Kumar, president of the Indian Nursing Council, he said that it would require not less than 25 lakh nurses to achieve the ideal nurse-people ratio.
Mr. Senthil Kumar stressed the significance of private nursing colleges that were turning out qualified nurses year after year. However, they were not getting placements in government hospitals in Tamil Nadu and this was a cause for concern.
While other States did not distinguish between nursing students of government and private institutions, it was unfortunate that such discrimination existed in Tamil Nadu.
When those graduating out of private polytechnic colleges and private engineering colleges could readily find government jobs, why should such an opportunity be denied to the private nursing colleges students, he asked.
In fact, private nursing colleges were well equipped in terms of faculty and infrastructure. Following a case filed for removal of the anomaly in accessing government jobs for the private college nursing students, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court ruled that no distinction should be made between the students of private and government-run nursing colleges.
Mr. Senthil Kumar hoped that this would be implemented by the government without delay. He pointed out that nurses also had employment opportunities abroad and this could be ascertained from the fact that about 10 to 20 per cent of nursing students leave for foreign countries every year.
He said students should not have any regret in having joined the nursing courses. After all, they were in a noble profession to serve mankind with a sense of dedication and compassion.
Though at times their calling would be stressful, they could overcome it by developing a sense of humour and refuse to get hyper-sensitive, Mr. Senthil Kumar added.
Principal Tamilselvi Moses said the “Nurses Day” was being observed as a tribute to Florence Nightingale and also to the services rendered by nurses to mankind.
Student representatives gave presentations on this year's theme: “Closing the gap: Increasing access and equity.”
