Third,
nursing would need to evolve over a period of time
to respond to new demands and new techniques. With
changing lifestyles and altered demographic structures,
nurses would need to meet emerging healthcare requirements.
The new century has brought more focus on healthy
life-styles and self-care. Everyone needs to be taught
the basic skills and knowledge of healthcare. Nurses
will help people to help themselves and will do for
people what they cannot do for themselves. In such
a scenario, the role of the nurse will be that of
an enabler, a facilitator and a manager of care. Nurses
should constantly upgrade their skills to meet these
varied functions. At the same time, there will be
a greater use of sophisticated medical technology,
calling for more specialisation by nurses. Fourth,
a constant vigil of the personal hygiene of the patients,
makes recovery faster and speedier.
A
nurse has to ensure this rule is adhered to without
fail and these aspects are explained to the patient
as well. Today, medical waste is one of the grave
environmental challenges confronting us. Nurses can
play an important role in the safe disposal of medical
waste as its segregation and handling begins from
the bedside of the patient. Fifth, as nursing personnel
remain in constant communication with the patient,
observing patterns of recovery and monitoring their
parameters, their role as innovators in providing
better healthcare to the patients must not be overlooked.
As part of routine work, a nurse collects useful data
which can be valuable input for medical research.
Sixth, it is essential for nurses to look beyond the
role of administering care to patients and embrace
some social responsibility. To achieve the national
objective of delivering primary healthcare to all,
nurses must join in the efforts to take medical services
to the doorsteps of the people in villages, remote
and tribal areas, including economically weaker sections
in cities and towns.
They
can contribute to creating awareness about healthy
practices, disease prevention, and provide vital maternal
and child healthcare services to the community. I
would like to point out the need to improve the nurse-patient
ratio in our country. This aspect calls for an increase
in nursing colleges. Nursing calls for high professional
ethics and sensitivity and compassion towards patients
that would ensure that the process of treatment and
recovery becomes a journey that leaves a feeling of
being cared for. Nursing, indeed, is service towards
humanity. For them the guiding principle should be
“Seva Parmo Dharma” - service is the highest
duty. Nurses take care of patients as affectionately
as a mother or a sister takes care of us when we fall
ill at home. Therefore, we call her ‘Sister’.
I think since this is a noble profession, society
should treat them with respect. Issues relating to
their working conditions and other welfare measures
deserve our consideration. I congratulate all those
who have been recognised today and hope that this
will motivate others too, to perform with the same
degree of competence.
Thank
you, Jai Hind!
