Nursing is a calling not a profession

As a registered nurse, I’m trained to respond when someone is in need. But recently my training met an unusual challenge — not in a hospital, but aboard Vande Bharat Express, while traveling from Katra to Srinagar.

About an hour into the journey, an announcement echoed through the train: someone needed medical assistance. My training immediately kicked in and I was ready to help. But the announcement was unclear, and I couldn’t catch which coach required attention.

For the rest of the journey, my mind was occupied with thoughts of this unknown patient. I could only hope that timely medical help had reached the patient.

Being a nurse is about more than knowledge — it’s about presence, compassion and readiness to act. Even when the circumstances prevent immediate action, his/her heart is always with the patient.

I’ve faced countless emergencies throughout my career. But this experience, outside the controlled environment of a hospital, underscored the unpredictability of life and the responsibility that nurses carry. It’s a responsibility that doesn’t end at the hospital doors — it travels with us, wherever we go.

As the train sped forward, I carried both the anxiety of uncertainty and the hope that someone had reached the patient. By the time we arrived in Srinagar, the feeling stayed with me — not as a burden, but as a reminder of why I chose this profession. I realised once again that nursing is not just a profession — it’s a calling. And with every journey, every patient, and every moment, that calling reminds us of the power and responsibility we hold in our hands.

Manoj Kumar, Nursing Officer, Government Medical College, Baramulla