By: Shabir Hussain Jhatial The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with UNICEF, WHO, Pakistan Paediatric Association, and MAP, has launched a 4-Day Emergency Obstetric & Neonatal Care (EmONC) Masters Training Workshop in Islamabad. This initiative aims to address Pakistan’s high maternal and neonatal mortality rates, which are among the highest globally.  Background Statistics:- Maternal Mortality Rate: 186/100,000, Neonatal Mortality Rate: 42/1000, Stillbirth Rate: 30 per 1,000 live births  Workshop Objectives: -Equip top leadership of gynecologists and midwives with necessary skills and knowledge to address -Improve healthcare services and reduce mortality rates -Integrate new Emergency Neonatal Care (ENCC) materials developed with Laerdal Global Health and the American Academy of Pediatrics while the critical training was facilitated two Midwives teachers from Norway Ms. Patricia Titulier and Ms. Julia both Midwife Instructors. Trainer Midwives & Trainees Besid...

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...

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...

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...

1. Download challan form from the downloads section of online.pnc.org.pk . The exact link of challan form is: http://online.pnc.org.pk/RevisedChallan.pdf 2. Submit fee in any  Habib Bank branch and get it stamped from the bank. 3. Scan the challan copy and upload it online Note: you can easily scan challan form using your cellphone which has more than 5 megapixels camera. You can use CamScanner app to scan challan form. link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.intsig.camscanner

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...

The Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC) Act of 1973 has recently undergone several amendments. These amendments aim to update and clarify the laws and regulations governing the training and registration of nurses, midwives, and Lady Health Visitors (LHVs) in Pakistan. These amendments were proposed in the Pakistan Nursing Council (Amendment) Act of 2023 and are intended to improve the quality of nursing education and practice in the country, and to ensure that nurses and other healthcare professionals are adequately prepared to meet the needs of patients.  The following is a list of some of the key amendments that have been made to the PNC Act: The definition of "BSN" has been added to the act, which refers to a bachelor of science in nursing degree as a recognized higher qualification. The definition of "CNS" has been added to the act, which refers to a Clinical Nurse Specialist, who is a registered nurse who has completed a post-BSN diploma in a relevant discipline, an...

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...

A recent alert issued by the Directorate of Drugs Control, Punjab, highlights serious concerns about using intravenous (IV) ceftriaxone with calcium-containing products, such as Ringer Lactate. This alert is based on reports of adverse drug reactions and underscores the risk of IV admixture incompatibility. Healthcare professionals are advised to take immediate action to ensure patient safety.    Details of the Alert Issued By:  Punjab Pharmacovigilance Center  Key Concern Using IV ceftriaxone and calcium-containing products together can cause severe, potentially fatal complications due to precipitation in the bloodstream. This issue is particularly critical in neonates but extends to older infants and adults under specific conditions.   Pharmacovigilance Center Findings The Pharmacovigilance Center in Punjab has reported numerous adverse reactions related to the combined use of IV ceftriaxone and calcium-containing products. Investigations revealed:  ...