By: Shabir Hussain Jhatial  Ex Director Nursing Sindh The BS Nursing students of the 8th semester at the College of Nursing, NICH Karachi, Ms.Aneeqa Aruj, Bushra Khan, Neha Ilyas and Ms. Rizwana organized a Graded Nursing Seminar on the topic “New Dimensions of Care: A Historical Evolution of Nursing Profession”.  The seminar highlighted the time to time changes in nursing care across various civilizations which was beautifully presented by final year students. Their presentation encompassed the journey up to modern day nursing trends integrating artificial intelligence and technological advancements for more effective nursing services. The graded session was supervised by renowned Nursing Scholar Madam Alia Nasir Principal of Rufaidah Hamdard College and Professor Amjad Khan, Principal of Jinnah College of Nursing Suhail University. The jury for this Seminar included Dr. Sara the Chief Pharmacist of NICH and senior nursing faculty from College of Nursing Korangi Ms. Shake...

The Pakistan Nursing & Midwifery Council (PNMC) has introduced a new uniform dress code for nurses working in clinical settings across the country. The announcement, in an official letter from the PNMC dated January 31, 2024, stated guidance about professional attire of nursing staff in Pakistan. The new dress code approved during the 6th session of the council held from January 15-17, 2024, under the leadership of Ms. Farzana Zulfiger, President of PNMC, specifies new uniforms for male and female nurses. Female nurses are to wear a dark blue shalwar kameez with a nameplate, accompanied by a white coat and a blue scarf/dupatta. Male nurses are required to wear dark blue scrubs along with a nameplate. Category Uniform Female Nurses Dark blue shalwar kameez with nameplate, white coat or blue scarf/dupatta Male Nurses Dark blue scrubs with nameplate Health Departments across Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber P...

Are you confused about the terms BSN, BScN, Generic BSN, Post-RN, BS Nursing, and BSc Nursing? We receive many questions about these terms at PKN. This updated post will clarify these terms, especially in the context of recent changes in Pakistan. In short, the Generic BSN is a degree program for individuals who wish to join the nursing profession after 12 years of schooling, while the Post-RN BScN is a degree program for nurses who already have a three-year diploma in nursing.  Generic BSN The Generic BSN is an ideal option for those who want to enter the nursing profession in Pakistan. Previously, another option to join the nursing profession was the 3-year diploma in general nursing. However, according to the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan's policies, the diploma in nursing was phased out across Pakistan in 2018.  The Generic BSN is a 4-year degree program followed by a one-year internship. An internship involves practical nursing practice in a hospital u...

By: Shabir Hussain        Ex DGN Sindh  Karachi: In another significant step towards enhancing effective healthcare in Pakistan, The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) has unveiled the "AKU Manual of Clinical Practice Guidelines", designed to potentially improve healthcare outcomes for 21 million people in Pakistan.  Endorsed by the US-GRADE System, this pioneering work offers evidence-based recommendations and with potentials to prevent 280,000 deaths annually in Pakistan. The unveiling of the Manual took place at a ceremonial launch on January 8, 2024, presided over by the Prime Minister Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif at AKU's Campus in Karachi.  The briefing was given by Dr. Adil H. Haider, Dean, Medical & Professor of Surgery & Community Health Sciences at the Dean's Office. The AKU's Manual of Clinical Practice Guidelines sets a new standard for healthcare excellence nationwide by providing uniform, evidence-based clinical guidelines fo...

Courtesy: Sabir Mehno PIMS I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly to pass my life in purity and to practise my profession faithfully. I shall abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and shall not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I shall do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling.

The Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC), ( now called the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council or PNMC ) is the regulatory body for nursing education and practice in Pakistan. PN&MC notified the eligibility criteria for the appointment of faculty members in nursing colleges. The PNMC's notification, which was issued in August 2015 (vide letter number F-11-PNC-admin/2015-723), outlines the minimum qualifications, experience, and publications required for nursing lecturers, assistant professors, associate professors, and professors. In this blog post, we will discuss the eligibility criteria in detail and answer some common questions about them.  Q: What are the minimum qualifications required for a Nursing Lecturer position in a college of nursing according to PNMC?  A: The minimum qualifications required for a Nursing Lecturer position in a college of nursing are: Registered Nurse and Registered Midwife with Post RN BSN degree (Two years of post-degree experience, prefe...

Understanding the nurse-patient ratio according to the Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC) is crucial for ensuring proper healthcare standards in hospitals across the country.  However, it is important to acknowledge that nurse-patient ratios in many hospitals in Pakistan are currently far lower than the recommended guidelines. In this blog post, we will provide a detailed analysis and breakdown of the official PNC notification on this subject. The official PNC notification on this subject is given below. Official Nurse-Patient Ratio According to Pakistan Nursing Council: The PNC issued a notification (No. PNC F-7-14-Admin/2021/ 3702) on 25th May 2021, outlining the minimum nurse-to-patient ratio for hospitals across Pakistan. The guidelines provided in this notification are as follows:     General Hospital Units: In general hospital units, the nurse-to-patient ratio should be 1:3 beds, which means three nurses for every ten beds, with one reliever nurse for e...

The Pakistan Nursing Council ( now called the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council or PN&MC ) has introduced internship guidelines 2021 for undergraduate nursing students who have completed four years of college. The internship program must be completed in a PNC recognized hospital, which will offer PNC-specified clinical experiences. During this program, students will have a combination of practical and theoretical experiences that will enable them to acquire competency and experience to perform as an independent nurse. Successful completion of the internship period will result in an internship certificate, and students will be eligible to appear in the licensing examination.  Below are some frequently asked questions and answers from these guidelines. What is the nursing internship program in Pakistan? The nursing internship program is a one-year program for nursing students in Pakistan, which is taken after the successful completion of a four-year undergraduate...

By: Shabir Hussain        Ex DGN Sindh  Karachi: In another significant step towards enhancing effective healthcare in Pakistan, The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) has unveiled the "AKU Manual of Clinical Practice Guidelines", designed to potentially improve healthcare outcomes for 21 million people in Pakistan.  Endorsed by the US-GRADE System, this pioneering work offers evidence-based recommendations and with potentials to prevent 280,000 deaths annually in Pakistan. The unveiling of the Manual took place at a ceremonial launch on January 8, 2024, presided over by the Prime Minister Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif at AKU's Campus in Karachi.  The briefing was given by Dr. Adil H. Haider, Dean, Medical & Professor of Surgery & Community Health Sciences at the Dean's Office. The AKU's Manual of Clinical Practice Guidelines sets a new standard for healthcare excellence nationwide by providing uniform, evidence-based clinical guidelines fo...

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Managing Nurses’ Duty Roster Version 3 (January 2019) Developed By: Khalil Ahmed Head Nurse, CCU, IH, PIMS, Islamabad Description: The purpose of developing these SOPs was to create uniformity and clarity in the policies regarding nurses’ duty roster. This document has brought the already practised rule into written form. The first version of the SOPs was introduced in Emergency and Accident Center, PIMS in 2014.  Further improvements have been brought in the subsequent versions. Constructive feedback would be appreciated. A sample duty roster which incorporates some of these rules is attached. SOPs Rationales 1.        Days off available in a month: 1.1.     Weekly off: A nurse will be eligible to avail weekly days off equal to the number of Sundays in a month. Because every Sunday is an official day off, therefore, all nurses are eli...