‘Closing GNM course will affect hospital services badly’
| Date :04-May-2019 |
By Ajay Mardikar
Indian Nursing Council’s move to phase out General Nursing Midwifery (GNM) course is likely to badly affect the hospitals and colleges conducting the course. Through a notification issued in February 2019, the Council has announced phasing out of GNM course from the year 2020-21. The decision was taken by the Governing board in a meeting held on December 2, 2018. The course is being closed in the name of upgrading it to BSc Nursing degree course.
A member of Maharahstra Nursing and Paramedical Board Narendra Kolte, when contacted, stated that the decision to upgrade the nursing schools into nursing colleges should be based on the condition of the institutions conducting these diploma courses. At the same time availability of nurses in the hospitals should also have been considered.
In almost all the hospitals, 90% of the nursing staff is GNM diploma holders. The Government has BSc course only in four of its 14 colleges - Nagpur, Mumbai, Pune and Aurangabad. These colleges need MSc (Nursing) person to work as a teacher. The MSc (Nursing) course is available only with one college in Mumbai.
There are 365 nursing schools conducting GNM course and 425 have facility for ANM (Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery) course. Among private colleges, 85 conduct BSc and 12 MSc courses. However, those opting for Nursing profession usually are from lower strata. ANMs are posted in OPD, GNM in OPD or for room services and BSc or MSc in ICU and Operation Theatres.
Even the Super Speciality Hospital, Nagpur could not run to its full potential for want of trained nurses (MSc), required for post-operative care.
In ICU (Intensive Care Unit) the ratio of nurse to patient is 1:1. Rarely this ratio is maintained even in big multispeciality hospitals, added Kolte.
MSc course was to be introduced in Government Medical College, Nagpur in 2014 itself. The issue is still pending because qualified persons are not available for appointment as teachers. Recently, few colleges were sanctioned for Gadchiroli district. The tribal girls were expected to seek dmission and get employment based on GNM or ANM diploma. These students are attached to District Hospital for practical training. The Hospital authorities are happy to get them as their requirement of adequate staff is fulfilled and services by these trainee nurses are better compared to the regular employees.
Earlier, an attempt was made in the year 2004 in the name of upgradation. Fifteen years later, Nursing Council has again passed a resolution announcing the upgradation plan. Dr Pramod Salve, Director of Salve Nursing College, Chatgaon, Gadchiroli stated that closure of GNM course could be disastrous for hospitals. Even the institutions conducting the course will face problems in getting teachers. The tribal girls may not opt for four-year degree course. On the other hand, the eligibility for GNM should be relaxed from Std XII pass to Std X pass. This would help tribal girls/boys to seek admission for the course.
To quote an example of a big multispeciality hospital in Nagpur - Orange City Hospital and Research Institute
has 101 GNM and 19 ANM diploma holder nurses, out of total 164 nurses. Thus it is clear that 3/4th staff is GNM or ANM. Similar is the situation in other hospitals.
The Nursing Council has quoted that the move is aimed at providing better services under National Health Mission. However, looking into the present condition, the move can boomerang, adversely affecting the nursing services.
With a large number of medical, paramedical and nursing staff required for services in rural area, such a step is not likely to serve the purpose of National Health Mission, experts have stated.