Bridge course: Shortage of nurses to intensify

BATHINDA: On Thursday, when officials of the District Health Department introduced bridge courses amid huge fanfare with an aim to improve the quality of medical services at the sub-centre level (rural areas) by appointing community health officers (under NHM’s nationwide initiative), Mother and Child Hospital (MCH), an arm of the Civil Hospital, faced another challenge.

Sumeer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 22

On Thursday, when officials of the District Health Department introduced bridge courses amid huge fanfare with an aim to improve the quality of medical services at the sub-centre level (rural areas) by appointing community health officers (under NHM’s nationwide initiative), Mother and Child Hospital (MCH), an arm of the Civil Hospital, faced another challenge.

Already battling ‘acute’ staff crunch, the medical services at the Mother and Child Hospital (MCH) have been dealt a severe blow as three permanent staff nurses have stopped working at the hospital after being enrolled for six months certification course for the post of CHO.

Short-staffed, staff nurses at the SNCU (special neo-natal care) unit of Mother and Child Hospital had already been stretching beyond the scheduled duty hours while rendering services.

Of six staff nurses against the stated requirement of 10 for the SNCU, two nurses are enrolled in the bridge course, thereby leaving the unit to function with four staff nurses now.

The Tribune, in its report carried on March 19, had highlighted that the Health Department, under the tutelage of the NHM, is set to rollout bridge courses to appoint community health officers at the sub-centre level.

In the labour unit of the hospital, of five staff nurses, one is enrolled for the bridge course and one staff nurse is on a long leave, leaving the unit to function with three staff nurses now.

Of more than 500 deliveries conducted at the MCH on monthly basis, the SNCU unit of the hospital witnesses approximately 190 newborn admissions on monthly basis that account for six to eight new infants (born in single day) requiring critical care at the unit on daily basis.

One of the doctors at the MCH, requesting anonymity, said, “Infants admitted to the SNCU unit require critical care and risking lives of newborns by giving this responsibility to nursing students would have wider repercussions. Managing affairs at one of the busiest units of the hospital with four staff nurses against the requirement of 10 would definitely compromise on quality medical care at the unit.”

Underweight newborns (below 1,800 gm), children born in 34 week gestational period and those with jaundice, septicemia, breathing problems, hyperthermia or fits are admitted to the SNCU unit of the hospital.

When asked, Civil Surgeon Hari Narayan Singh said, “We cannot do much in the matter. The introduction of bridge course and appointment of CHOs is done by State Health Department, so they would ensure arrangements at their level.”

Services to be affected

Already battling an ‘acute’ staff crunch, the medical services at the Mother and Child Hospital (MCH) have been dealt a severe blow as three permanent staff nurses have stopped working at the hospital after being enrolled for six months certification course for the post of CHO.
Of the six staff nurses against the stated requirement of 10 for the SNCU, two nurses are enrolled in the bridge course, thereby leaving the unit to function with four staff nurses as of now.