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Showing posts from January, 2025

Alarming New Findings: 39% of Nurses Faced Anxiety, 36% Battled Depression During COVID-19

Amid COVID-19’s early chaos, nurses were hailed as heroes—but a new meta-analysis published in the Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences reveals a troubling side of this praise: about 39% experienced anxiety, and 36% faced depression. This analysis of nearly 40,000 nurses shows they suffer higher distress rates than other healthcare workers, spotlighting a pressing need for targeted support. Key Takeaways:     Elevated Prevalence      Anxiety reached 38.5%, and depression 35.5%. These figures exceed rates seen in broader healthcare teams.    Workload & Emotional Toll       Frontline nurses endured relentless patient contact, evolving protocols, and intense emotional strain.   Critical Vulnerability      – Early data suggest female nurses faced the highest mental health risk, pointing to the importance of gender-specific support strategies.    Practical Steps :    Implement...

NICH Nursing College: Blazing a Trail of Excellence in Sindh’s Public Sector Nursing Education

By: Shabir Hussain Jhatial  Nursing College of NICH is trail blazer in Sindh's public sector nursing institutes" said Ms. Najma Mangi Director Nursing Sindh. “This college is my home institute. I am proud of it and will ensure all possible facilities are provided through the Nursing Council for its enhancement.” said Aijaz Ali Kaleri, the Executive Member of Pakistan Nursing & Midwifery Counci “I consider NICVD and NICH sister institutions, and I feel immense pride in the outstanding performance of the students of this college.” said reknowned clinician and nursing academia Mr. Altaaf Manhas of NICVD. The remarkable arrangements of three seminars in a single day by the final year BSN students, with participation from the Director of Nursing Sindh, PN&MC elected member, NICVD's Clinician and renowned nursing scholars, validated the college's journey to excellence . According to details at College of Nursing (NICH), located in the heart of Karachi, the 8th-seme...

College of Nursing NICH Outshines Again All Public Sector Colleges in Sindh

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...

AKUH Launches Clinical Guidelines Manual to Save 280,000 Lives Annually in Pakistan

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...

AKUH Launches Clinical Guidelines Manual to Save 280,000 Lives Annually in Pakistan

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...

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PNC Eligibility Criteria for Admission in Post-RN BScN

Update 6th September 2019: Only after a few days of issuing the revised eligibility criteria on 3rd September 2019, PNC issued another letter on 6th September 2019. Therefore, the latest eligibility criteria for admissions in Post-RN BSN is the one which was issued on 6th September 2019 and is given below: PAKISTAN NURSING COUNCIL (NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH) CHAK SHEHZAD,  ISLAMABAD NO. PNC F11-Admin/2019/2959  Date: September 6, 2019 NOTIFICATION:  Revised Admission Criteria for Post RN BSN Degree In compliance of the decision taken against Agenda Item No. 01 of  Academic Committee meeting of Pakistan Nursing Council held on 14- 16" May,  2018 and Agenda Item No. 05 of the 25" Session of Pakistan Nursing Council held  under the chair of Ms Afshan Nazly, President, PNC on 30th - 31th July, 2019 the  following Admission criteria of 02 years Post RN BSN Degree ls hereby revised as below: Qualification : Matric w...

FPSC: RECRUITMENT TO THE POSTS OF FIFTY NINE CHARGE NURSES (BS-16), FEDERAL GENERAL HOSPITAL, CHAK SHAHZAD, ISLAMABAD CABINET DIVISION

Congratulations! According to this notification shared on Federal Public Service Commission's website, the candidates whose Names & Roll numbers are given below have been provisionally pre-selected and will be called for interview as and when scheduled; subject to submission of attested copies (with name stamp of attestation officer) of documents mentioned against them. The candidates have also been informed by registered post:

MSN Admission Eligibility Criteria by PNC

Through a notification issued on 3rd September 2019, Pakistan Nursing Council has revised the eligibility criteria for admission in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programme throughout the country. PNC Letter issued on 3rd September 2019 Letter Number: PNC Admin/ 2019/2954-57 Dated: Sptember 3, 2019 In compliance of the decision taken against Agenda Item No. 01 of Academic Committee meeting of Pakistan Nursing Council held on 14t 16th May, 2018 and Agenda Item No. 05 of the 25 Session of Pakistan Nursing Council held under the chair of Ms. Afshan Nazly, President, PNC on 30 -31st July, 2019 the following Admission Criteria of 02 years MSN Degree is hereby revised as below: Category-I 10 years' schooling (Matric) 3 years General Nursing Diploma registered with PNC 01 year Midwifery Diploma or any other Post Basic Specialty Diploma registered with PNC 01 year experience as RN for admission in Post RN BSN Degree 2 Years' Post RN BSN Degree Program as sp...

PNC Amendment Act 2023: A Guide

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...

What is PNC Licensure Exam and Why is it Necessary?

by Khalil Ahmed Jatt, Head Nurse, PIMS, Islamabad  PNC Licensure Examination is a written test of the Generic BSc Nursing graduates that is conducted by the Pakistan Nursing Council to determine the preparedness of the graduates for nursing practice. Recently, the examination has been abolished by PNC due to some understandable reasons. Some people are of the view that PNC licensure examination for GBSN is unjust and unnecessary. Their perspective is based on the following arguments: When there are university exams then we do not need to appear for an extra exam. There is no licensure examination for the diploma holders therefore, there is no need for licensure exam for BSN graduates. Other healthcare professionals in Pakistan do not go through such examination, therefore this exam is unnecessary for BSN graduates It is not conducted internationally. PNC can not conduct a transparent examination. Many toppers failed in the licensure examination. Licensure exa...

Admissions in Post-RN BSN and Post Basic Specialization

Directorate of Nursing Punjab has announced admissions in Post-RN BSN and Post Basic Specialization in Nursing. The last date to apply is   30th April 2019 .  

What is the Nurse-Patient Ratio According to Pakistan Nursing Council?

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...

PNC Eligibility Criteria for Faculty Appointment in Nursing Colleges in Pakistan

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...

New Nurses Uniform by Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (January 2024)

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...

Difference Between Post-RN BScN & Generic BSN (Updated 2023)

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...