Nurses seek promotion to teaching posts

Speaking at the presentation of the 12th Florence Nightingale Awards-2011, KSGNA president Kamala Hugar said 192 teaching posts sanctioned in three government nursing colleges in the State were vacant for the last several years. Instead of filling these vacancies, the Government had deputed staff nurses on official duty.

“Although the nurses are serving in various capacities as assistant professor, lecturer and professor in these colleges, our salaries are not on a par with the posts we are serving. Since the postings are not official, the nurses are paid salaries equivalent to staff nurse. We want the government to promote these nurses to the faculty position, on the basis of their qualification and service,” she said.

A total of 88 posts were vacant in the 11 government diploma nursing schools. The Association demanded a hike in the monthly stipend paid to the general nursing students (diploma) from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000. Kamala Hugar said the Government should pass an order to restrict private nursing homes from hiring untrained nurses.

Association honorary president Dase Gowda said qualified nurses of the Health department should be absorbed into the Medical Education department. At present, there are 1,800 vacant posts of staff and senior nurses across all government hospitals.

Nightingale Awards

Best nursing superintendent - Justina Nancy Mendonca, chief of Nursing, Columbia Asia Hospital; Best lecturer - Lalitha H, Government College of Nursing; Best staff nurse - Veena Kumari P S, M S Ramaiah Medical Teaching Hospital; Best staff nurse - Leela Yeshwant Potagoli, Sree Narasimharaja District Hospital, Kolar; Best staff nurse, S M Vishalakshi, Chigateri General Hospital, Davangere; Best Anglo Indian nurse - Jennifer Ann Joseph, St Martha’s.