Stereotypes, a blot on this noble profession?

World Nurses Day

​Hyderabad: May 12, the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, was first observed as International Nurses Day (IND) by the International Council of Nurses back in 1965.

Every year nursing kits are distributed to nurses across the globe to make themselves equipped with all the information they need with regard to their profession, apart from conducting various activities in hospitals.

Despite the divine importance attached to nursing, the life-giving yet thankless profession, nurses continue to be stereotyped, exploited and discriminated against.

The Hans India spoke extensively with nurses working in government and private hospitals on the occasion of International Nurses Day being celebrated on May 12.

“We basically talk them out of their illnesses. We treat them emotionally and physically. This kind of service is so unique which no other profession can do.

Yet there are many who don’t give us our due. Many keep complaining despite us doing our best to serve them,” said Vijaya Kumari, Head Nurse in Medak Government Area Hospital.

“We have 400 patients coming everyday to out patient ward and there are just two nurses for 30 beds. They need to administer 300 injections and treat 30 patients in the beds.

There are also those coming with snake bites, accidents and being poisoned. One must understand the amount of pressure on us,” she added.

One of the issues affecting nursing practitioners is being stereotyped as ‘naughty nurses’ who can be exploited and abused easily due to the nature of their work.

This stereotyping comes from the very basics of nursing profession which involves cleaning patient’s body after vomiting and toilet, brushing the patient, giving bath and so on.

“What we show here is our dedication for the profession by literally doing everything in our power to ensure the patient survives.

But there are people who communicate to the outside world that we can be taken for granted. This is wrong,” said a nursing in-charge working at a super speciality hospital in Hyderabad.

This kind of stereotyping follows these nursing practitioners till their marriage too. Even in the present day world, people find it difficult to get married or to accept nurses as their brides.

“There was this Dalit guy, a police constable who came to see me for marriage. As soon as he came to know I am a nurse, he refused to marry me,” said another senior nurse who is still single.

“Society doesn’t treat us fairly. 50 per cent of the patients are not thankful to our services. But on the positive side there are more safety equipments for us these days. Nursing is a God’s boon,” opined Santosha, Senior Nurse at Medak Government Hospital.

Florence Nightingale, Founder of Modern Nursing, did exemplary work and conceptualised nursing during the Crimen War of 1850s, when she was stationed at the Barrack Hospital in Scutari.

She reformed healthcare services and nursing and opened ‘The Nightingale School of Nursing’ at St Thomas Hospital in London, in 1860.

A candle lamp service is held every year on May 12, where a candle lamp is handed over from one nurse to another (symbolising to pass the knowledge from one nurse to the other), to place it on the higher altar.

A big ceremony is lso held at St Margaret’s Church, the burial place of Florence Nightingale, a day after her birthday. Celebrations are held every year across the globe during the entire week starting May 6 till May 12.