Kathmandu: While nurses are the backbone of Nepal’s health care system, often there are voices that they have not been provided enough amenities by the health facilities they work with. Once in a job, they have to serve the patients day in and day out. On the occasion of International Nurses Day, DMN News reached out to two nurses to find out what they have to say:
“Nurses in Nepal are the backbone of the healthcare system, embodying the motto “from womb to tomb.” This noble profession faces a dual reality of opportunities and challenges. While there’s a rising demand for skilled nurses in diverse healthcare settings, factors like inadequate training facilities, limited resources, and rural-urban disparities persist, compromising the quality of education and practice.
“It’s imperative to enhance support, resources, and recognition to empower these frontline heroes in providing quality healthcare.”
Moreover, low pay, heavy workloads, and staffing shortages add to the strain. Nevertheless, Nepali nurses exhibit unwavering resilience and dedication, delivering essential care to communities. It’s imperative to enhance support, resources, and recognition to empower these frontline heroes in providing quality healthcare.”
Rasmi Koirala
[Currently pursuing master’s degree in community nursing]
“Being a registered nurse in Nepal, I found my profession tough and challenging. Every patient should get the best care and enough attention but due to a lack of sufficient staff we are forced to look after so many patients. For example, in an ICU ward, nurse to patient ratio should be 1:1 but in most of the hospitals including the ones I work at, the ratios are around 3:1 which includes ventilated and non-ventilated cases. On the other hand, despite our best efforts we get paid minimum wage which is such a shame. Recently, many nurses are leaving the country for their better future abroad, which is fair because the facilities and salary that we get here is one of the lowest in the whole world.
“Nepal Nursing Council should look and review the problems faced by the nurses in Nepal. Otherwise sooner or later there will be no more nurses in the hospitals of Nepal.”
Nepal Nursing Council should look and review the problems faced by the nurses in Nepal. Otherwise sooner or later there will be no more nurses in the hospitals of Nepal.”
Sujyana Bhusal
[Currently working at Rapti Academy of Health Sciences]
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