New Nursing Institutions for PNC Inspection: Protocols to Prepare Files

The Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC) is responsible for regulating nursing education and practice in Pakistan. It issued an office order on 18th March 2021 outlining the protocols and qualifications for new nursing institutions to qualify for inspection. This checklist provides guidance to those who want to establish a new nursing institution in Pakistan. In this blog post, we will provide further guidance based on the PNC's office order.

The first requirement for a new nursing institution is a covering letter with a filled PNC Annual Return Form. This form is necessary to provide information about the institution's academic programs and faculty, as well as its infrastructure and resources.

The second requirement is the payment of a revised application fee. The amount of the fee depends on whether the institution offers diploma programs or degree programs. The revised inspection fee is also required, and it is Rs. 150,000.

The third requirement is a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the provincial government or a memorandum of understanding (MOU)/NOC with a hospital that has at least 200 beds. This requirement ensures that the institution has the necessary resources to provide quality education and training to its students.

The fourth requirement is the provision of details about the institution's physical address, business NTN, and verified copies of the last three months' utility bills, such as electricity, telephone, water, and Sui gas.

The fifth requirement is infrastructure, which includes a rent agreement or deed of the institution building for at least ten years. This ensures that the institution has a stable and secure place of operation.

Sixth requirement is a list of faculty, including appointment letters, CVs, and copies of registration cards for each program. The table in the PNC office order provides detailed information on the number of faculty required for different programs and academic years.

When it comes to the faculty requirements for initiating one degree program in the new institution, it is essential to note that for one degree program, such as generic BSN or Post RN BSN, with 30 to 50 students, at least 10 faculty members are required. Out of these faculty members, at least 2 should have a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. It's crucial to have enough faculty members to ensure that the students receive the necessary attention and guidance to excel in their studies. If there are more degree programs, more faculty members are required accordingly. The PNC has set these requirements to ensure that nursing institutions provide a high-quality education to the students and produce competent nurses who can contribute to the healthcare sector.

Once all these requirements are fulfilled, the relevant section of the Pakistan Nursing Council will check for the fulfilment of all these requirements/protocols before finalizing the name of the institution for inspection.

The requirements of the file to be prepared for the inspection are as follows: Covering letter with filled PNC Annual Return Form from the new institution Revised Application Fee (Rs. per diploma program and Rs. 100,000/- per degree program) Revised Inspection Fee (Rs. 150,000) NOC from Provincial Government or MOU/NOC with hospital (at least 200 bedded) Detail required: (i) Institute physical address, (ii) Business NTN, (iii) Verified copies of last 03 months' Utility bills i.e. Electricity, Telephone, water, Sui gas Infrastructure of College Rent agreement/Deed of Institution building (at least 10 years) List of faculty, appointment letters, CVs, and copies of registration cards for each program.

Establishing a new nursing institution in Pakistan requires fulfilling several requirements, as outlined in the PNC office order. It is essential to understand these requirements and work towards fulfilling them to ensure a smooth and efficient process of establishing a new nursing institution.