KMU/PGCN Celebrates International Nurses Day

“Nurses are angel who touches a life every day and brings smile and hope in most of the life they touch. Along their carrier they come across a number of people all of whom they provide love and care just as a family member would do”, this was stated by Prof Dr Muhammad Hafizullah Vice Chancellor Khyber Medical University (KMU), Peshawar while addressing as chief guest on the occasion of International Nurses Day celebrations held here at Post Graduate College of Nursing (PGCN) Hayatabad Peshawar. Dr Arif Siddiqui Executive Director National Institute of Health & Social Sciences(NIH&SS) Islamabad,Ms Yasmin Saggu Director Nursing NIH&SS Islamabad ,Prof Dr Shad Muhammad Director Academics KMU ,Dr Jalil-ur-Rahman Registrar KMU and Ms Shamshad Qadir Principal PGCN Peshawar were also present at the occasion.

VC KMU said that International Nurses day is celebrated by the international Council of Nursing (ICN) every year to recognize the selfless hard work, commitment and tireless effort of these vital health professionals. The Nurses Day celebrates a different theme each year and tries to educate and create awareness among the public on the importance of the cause. The important role nurses have in our life is inevitable and they should always be acknowledged for the care and support they shower their patient with, he added.

He said that it is also be one of the major causes of money loss as a large amount is spent on treatment and medicines over the time. The condition can be prevented or controlled if routine checkups and effective communication and relationship are observed between the patient and the health care professionals. Good and effective nursing facilities can always help to reduce the challenges the patient has to face every day.  He further said that a core function of nurses is the delivery of care appropriate to need, improving the health and well-being of patients.

Prof. Dr Muhammad Hafizullah urged that the nurse’s role is fundamental in providing information and support in order to enable patients to make appropriate choices for their health.  Nurses provided nursing services to a broad range of the population, often managing undifferentiated patient needs. While elaborating the key competencies of Nursing he explained that Nurses has 11 competencies which included safe and quality nursing care, management of resources,   environment’s health education,  ethic / moral responsibility, personal and professional development, quality improvement, research, record management, communication, collaboration and team work. These competencies are presented within a framework of four categories that encompass the nurse practitioner’s holistic approach to health care. The four categories are Health Assessment and Diagnosis; Health-Care Management and Therapeutic Intervention; Health Promotion and Prevention of Illness, Injury and Complications; and Professional Role and Responsibility.

It is worth mentioning here that the International Nurses Day is celebrated on 12th of May, the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, Founder of Modern Nursing to honor the dedicated services provided by the nursing community and the nursing week is observed from May 9 to May 15. Nurses are acknowledged for their dedication and hard work by presenting them thank you gifts. The doctors, patients and the administration gifts this dedicated staffs as a token of appreciation and acknowledgement. The Nurses Day is usually observed by conducting activities which are related to the theme of the year. The IND theme for 2010 is “Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Chronic Care”.

The recognition and celebration of the theme of Nurses Day may las

t around a week to the whole year and the nursing community takes care to meet the goals laid down by the ICN. Many educational seminars, conferences and community events are conducted around the world during the Nurses Week so as to educate the nurses on the importance of the Nurses Day celebration and the theme of the year. Training and workshops are conducted so as to improve the working skill of the nursing community. Public seminars, talks and plays are organized so as to educate and create awareness among the young students and common man. At various levels many activities are conducted to educate the students about the work and importance of nurses in the society. Nurses are also gets involved in community help activities around the celebration week and nurses goes to orphanages and old age care centers to provide emotional support and help to them.