Shimla
To improve the health care services in Himachal Pradesh, soon the recruitment of 400 staff nurses for the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) and Atal Super Specialty Institute of Medical Sciences in Chamiana is going to take place.
The shortage of nurses in these institutions has strained patient care, with patients bearing the brunt due to its high patient load.
This recruitment drive, set to be conducted through the Himachal Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (HPSEDC), is expected to alleviate the burden on the existing staff and improve care for patients.
Dr Sita Thakur, Principal of IGMC, confirmed that the recruitment process would commence shortly, providing much-needed support to both IGMC and the Chamiana facility.
“This will ensure that our patients receive better care as additional nursing staff will help us manage the increased demand for healthcare services,” she stated.
Currently, Chamiana’s departments operate within IGMC due to logistical constraints, exacerbating the existing shortage. more than 900 patients are admitted on a daily basis across various departments, including medicine, surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery, urology, cardiology, CTVS, pulmonary medicine, ophthalmology, ENT and dermatology.
with over 300 nursing positions currently vacant, existing staff are stretched thin, leading to challenges in providing the level of care patients need.
Impact on patient care, nursing staff
the shortage has placed immense pressure on the nursing staff, who work round-the-clock to attend to patients. With an overloaded patient-to-nurse ratio, nurses are struggling to meet the care demands, leading to increased physical and mental stress.
Dr Thakur noted that the recruitment of new nurses would not only improve patient care but also ease the workload of existing staff, thereby reducing the likelihood of burnout.
once hired, the new nursing staff will bring relief to the overstretched teams at IGMC and Chamiana, allowing nurses to focus on their core responsibilities without being overwhelmed by the heavy patient load.
Enhanced staff levels are anticipated to elevate the quality of care, helping patients receive prompt and attentive treatment.
