Practitioner Courses and Live Register for Nurses

Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda, inaugurated Indian Nursing Council Office Complex in New Delhi recently. On the occasion he underscored the importance of upgrading of skills of nurses across the country.

He stated that the NDA Government is committed to providing accessible, affordable and quality training to them.

Sh @JPNadda inaugurates office of Indian Nursing Council, at New Delhi today. pic.twitter.com/Q4Jjn6qQcN

— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) June 27, 2016

On the occasion Mr. Nadda launched two new Nurse Practitioner Courses, one in Critical Care and the other in Primary Healthcare. He also launched a web-based 'Live Register' for nurses.

Sh @JPNadda underscores importance of accessible & affordable quality training for skill upgradation of nurses. pic.twitter.com/TRWtiaZKdj

— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) June 27, 2016

The Health Minister further said that there is an urgent need to make training course contextual to country's needs. The Health Minister also suggested that the Nursing courses can be blended with skill India training Courses for countering the shortage of Nursing Staff.

#Nursing courses can be blended with #Skill India training courses: @MoHFW_INDIA @JPNadda pic.twitter.com/GhxbcO4Ppe

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) June 28, 2016

J P Nadda on importance of skill enhancement:

Laying stress on importance of adequate skill enhancement through appropriate training, Mr. Nadda stated that the training course for the nurses should be contextualised, so that they are imparted education and knowledge of the Indian healthcare landscape.

He also underscored the importance of informal education in addition to formal education, as it shall provide a holistic and rounded understanding of the various issues the nursed are required to deal with in their profession.

He also stated that the need for sensitisation towards laid down protocols in treatment should be made part of the curriculum.

The Health Minister also stated that in harmony with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "Skill India", his ministry also need to ponder on how the courses for skilling the nurses can be synced with the Skill India program.

Minister on 'Live Register':

Mr. Nadda termed the newly launched "Live Register" as path-breaking as through the Live Register accurate data of active and registered nurses will be made available online.

He also added that this will help the Government in better manpower planning and for making policy level decisions for the nursing professionals in India. He stated that this will help in rationalisation and optimum utilisation of manpower.

Mr. Nadda on Government's efforts for nursing:

Mr. Nadda informed that the government has given high priority for improving the Nursing and Midwifery cadre through skill development and continued professional development.

He said that the Government has undertaken major expansion of nursing and technical education leading to a three-fold increase in the numbers of nursing institutions and in the number of students passing out of these institutions.

Some of the initiatives undertaken by the NDA Government for strengthening of nursing cadre are:

1. Establishment of ANM/GNM schools,
2. Up-gradation of institutions from School of Nursing to College of Nursing for training of Nurses,
3. Development of 11 one year specialisation courses,
4. Revision of curriculum for all nursing programs,
5. Establishment of national PhD consortium for Nursing Research.

Minister on importance of nursing staff:

The Nursing Staff occupies important position in healthcare delivery and without them the desired results cannot be achieved.

The role of the nursing staff can be compared equally to that of the doctors when we think of achieving the SDGs.

About the programme:

The Nurse Practitioner in Critical Care Program will be a two-year residential M.Sc. degree in Nurse Practitioner in Critical care.

On completion of the program Nurses will be qualified to assume responsibility and accountability for the care of critically ill patients.

Whereas, the Nurse Practitioner in Primary Healthcare Program will be a one-year residential Post Graduate diploma program.