Nurses play an essential role in the healthcare system, providing a wide range of services crucial to patient care and the overall management of hospital services. As primary caregivers, nurses act on the front lines of healthcare, often being the first healthcare professionals that patients interact with. Being one of the major pillars of the healthcare system, nurses are vital for any hospital to function effectively.
Managing a hospital is a significant task, and improper management can lead to numerous problems. This issue has been exemplified at King George’s Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, where improper scheduling of nursing staff in 2022 and 2024 has led to workflow disruptions and patient suffering. The nursing associations at KGMU have raised several concerns regarding duty rosters, day-offs, and night-offs, threatening to protest if their demands are not met by July 30.
According to nursing officers, a key issue is the absence of senior nursing officers in the committee/panel responsible for scheduling nurse timings. In a letter written by the association’s president, Yadunandini Singh, and general secretary, Jitendra Upadhyay, they emphasized that only nurses can fully understand the working conditions and needs of their peers. They argued that officials from other departments making decisions for nursing staff is impractical.
Additionally, new nurses without experience in ICU and trauma wards have been appointed to these areas, posing risks to both the nurses and patients due to their lack of infection control practices. Nurses from the 2011 and 2022 batches, who have experience and certification in infection control practices, should have been deployed in these critical areas.
Additionally, newly appointed nurses are being posted in ICU and trauma wards. Since new nurses do not have proper training or practical knowledge, this could be risky for both the nurses and patients due to poor infection control practices. The nurses from the 2011 and 2022 batches have experience and certification in infection control. Either those nurses with certification in infection control training or having practical experience should be deployed.Pradip Gangwar, Patron of King George’s Medical University Nurses’ Association
The situation at KGMU also highlights the broader issue of nursing shortages, which can severely impact hospital operations. A shortage of nurses can lead to increased workloads for existing staff, resulting in burnout, decreased job satisfaction, and higher turnover rates. This, in turn, can compromise patient care, as overworked nurses may struggle to provide the necessary attention and support to each patient. Furthermore, inadequate staffing can delay medical procedures, increase the risk of errors, and reduce the overall quality of care.
(Input from various media sources)
(Rehash/Yash Kamble/MSM)